Before Ruoning Yin even had a chance to tap in the winning putt, the emotions had already spilled over.
Standing on the 18th green at TPC Boston, Yin dropped to her knees and tears began streaming down her face. The victory at the FM Championship, her sixth LPGA title, represented far more than just a trophy. It marked the end of a wait that had stretched nearly two years.
For a player who piled up wins almost as soon as she arrived, the drought felt foreign. Yin captured five titles in an 18-month span after bursting onto the LPGA scene, highlighted by her triumph at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Baltusrol. But after winning the 2024 Maybank Championship, the victories suddenly stopped coming.
The 23-year-old arrived in Boston still searching
for her first win since then, despite continuing to contend. She had posted a pair of runner-up finishes this season and added a tie for fourth at the recent CPKC Women's Open. The results suggested a breakthrough was close, even if doubt had begun creeping into her mind.
Then, with her mother watching from outside the ropes, everything finally came together.
Yin delivered a brilliant approach into the 72nd hole, creating enough separation from Hyo Joo Kim to lock up the title and return to the winner's circle.
"It's just been so long since my last win. And then I know I work hard and also my team, my mom is here," Yin said. "Just everything just comes together."
The victory was a reminder of both her talent and her resilience. Even amid the longest winless stretch of her young career, Yin continued piling up strong finishes, entering the week with 50 career top-25 results. What had been missing was a Sunday celebration.
Now she has one again.
"I think this one definitely boost my confidence a little bit more," Yin said, "and, you know, I just want to enjoy the moment."
She won $660,000 for the victory, but for one of the game's brightest young stars, the tears on the 18th green said it all. The wait was over. The belief was back.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Ruoning Yin claims emotional FM Championship victory
