Angel Yin clinched the season-long Aon Danger-Reward Problem this week.
Getty Pictures / Zephyr Melton
NAPLES, Fla. — Angel Yin is $1 million richer this week.
Due to her efficiency within the Aon Danger-Reward Problem (a season-long LPGA factors race based mostly on efficiency on a particular gap every week), the 24-year-old is cashing a critical examine earlier than the CME Group Tour Championship right here at Tiburon Golf Membership.
Within the males’s sport, it’s simple to not suppose twice a few sum like that. With $20 million mega-purses, gaudy PIP funds and Saudi-funded assured contracts, one million bucks doesn’t look like that a lot for a professional golfer. Comply with the LPGA Tour, although, and also you’ll shortly be reminded that $1 million continues to be a hefty payday.
Contemplate this: $1 million in earnings this season would land you twenty third on the LPGA cash checklist. The main cash winner, world No. 1 Lilia Vu, has collected $3.2 million, which might put her exterior the highest 50 on the PGA Tour. With the cool mil from Aon, Yin is including a pleasant bonus to her $1.6 million she’s already made on the course this yr.
Not that you just’d know by speaking to her. Regardless of just a few further zeroes in her checking account, Yin is similar as ever — eccentric, fun-loving and hysterically humorous.
“Pay tax [and] don’t go to a white-collar jail,” Yin mentioned of her plans for the cash. “Don’t get arrested.”
The reply drew laughter from the assembled media members and different invited visitors at her Tuesday press convention. Nevertheless it wasn’t the one light-hearted second through the presser — removed from it.
The place to take a seat?
With two microphones on the desk within the entrance of the room, Yin had two choices for the place to take a seat to just accept her award — left or proper? “Can I sit within the center?” Yin requested.
Dangerous conduct
Because the winner of an award based mostly on calculating threat, one reporter requested if Yin took dangers in different areas of life.
“I threat every part on a regular basis,” Yin mentioned.
How so?
“This morning I confirmed up on time, however everybody thought I used to be late for my pro-am tee time,” she mentioned. “That’s risking being DQ’d for one of many largest purses of the yr.”
Fortunately, Yin made her beginning time and later confirmed as much as her press convention with none tardiness.
Ideas on stats
There are many stats that time to Yin’s dominance on risk-reward holes this season. For one, she’s received some critical size off the tee. Averaging over 260 yards per drive, she’s inside the highest 50 on the LPGA in driving distance. She’s additionally among the many high 10 on Tour in success fee when going for the inexperienced as a substitute of laying up, and her common proximity to the outlet was 13 toes, higher than any of her friends. So, what have been Yin’s ideas on these quantity?
“Cool stats,” she deadpanned.
We take it that she’s not a lot of a number-cruncher when she’s on the course.
Regardless of being an LPGA winner and Solheim Cupper, Yin doesn’t have any sponsors. Within the males’s sport, it’s uncommon to see a participant with out logos plastered throughout. In girls’s golf, there are numerous gamers in the identical boat as Yin.
“It’s powerful when you could have a foul stretch of some years,” Yin mentioned earlier this season. “Your financial institution [account] will get fairly dry.”
Due to a profession yr in 2023, her checking account isn’t hurting too badly as of late. And Yin made certain to take time to thank her “sponsor” for that.
“I name it my little sponsorship for Angel,” Yin mentioned. “Thanks, Aon.”
Shoutout to Coach Prime
On the Solheim Cup earlier this fall, Yin confirmed as much as considered one of her media availabilities rocking big sun shades, a nod to Colorado soccer coach Deion Sanders. She even quoted Sanders, saying she and her Crew USA teammates have been “preserving receipts.”
At Tuesday’s press convention, Yin once more gave a nod to Coach Prime. After ending her formal availability, she was intercepted by an LPGA staffer who gave her a Sanders shirt.
“Can I take photos with the trophy on this?” Yin requested.
She shortly pulled the shirt over her golf outfit, placed on the shades and held the trophy excessive above her head.
In case you’re preserving receipts at house, Yin is $1 million richer this week. However she’s nonetheless the identical as she ever was — the funniest participant in golf.