FM Champion full week started along with U.S. captain Angela Stanford selecting Flower Zhang, Megan Khang and also Lindy Duncan as the last 3 participants of her staff to journey to the Netherlands in pair of full weeks. However while Stanford’s lineup was actually practically finished on Monday, one significant inquiry continued to be.
One that took limelight in the course of the 1st pair of times of the FM Champion at TPC Boston Ma.
Angel Yin, that created the U.S. Solheim Mug staff on factors, removed coming from the 3rd around of the KPMG Female’s PGA Champion in June and also hasn’t participated in due to the fact that. Yin told Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols that she possessed belly and also intestinal issues that triggered her to shed 35 extra pounds. After pair of months off of affordable golf, Yin returned recently at the FM Champion for a practice run to view just how her video game experiences and also if she thinks she’s in good condition to play in the Netherlands.
As anticipated, Yin’s video game was actually corroded upon gain. Down 35 extra pounds, Yin shed muscular tissue and also span and also strained on Thursday at TPC Boston Ma. She attacked simply 6 of 14 golf courses and also 6 of 18 eco-friendlies while bring in 9 bogeys and also absolutely no birdies en course to a first-round 81. She was actually a little a lot better in Friday’s 2nd around, striking 8 of 14 golf courses and also 7 of 18 eco-friendlies while firing a 4-over 76. Yin was actually final in the business with 36 openings and also skipped the weekend break in Boston ma. She will definitely certainly not possess yet another opportunity to reveal Stanford that her video game and also physical body prepare to assist the Americans make an effort to succeed their 1st Solheim Mug on International ground due to the fact that 2015.
“General, I believe on that particular facet, I carried out OK,” Yin told Golf Digest’s Jill Painter Lopez. “I battled with the congruity. I’ve possessed some fantastic individuals text message me after the around and also state it’s a method. I’m performing this for on my own and also appearing. My caddie has actually existed and also was actually tremendously encouraging. My staff is actually tremendously encouraging and also certainly a considerable amount of individuals.”
Even after skipping almost pair of months of competitors, the 27-year-old Yin still completed second on the United States factors checklist behind World No. 1 Nelly Korda. Abstractly, Yin is actually an essential part to any sort of opportunity the Americans possess of gaining in the Netherlands. She was actually a leader’s choice in 2017 and also 2023 and also certified by means of planet ranks factors in 2019. She possesses an occupation 5-3-1 history in the Solheim Mug.
But the question that remains is whether Yin’s body and game are in a place where she can be a valuable piece in the Netherlands. That she teed it up in Boston was a positive sign, but two rounds with zero birdies did little to answer the question looming above the Americans.
“If I feel I’m not fit for the team, I’m going to let her know,” Yin told Nichols earlier this week. “The last thing I want to do is drag the team down.”
Yin has been in constant communication with Stanford about her health and the status of her game. Asked earlier this week whether she thinks Yin will make the trip to the Netherlands, Stanford noted the importance of this week in Boston and how Yin’s body responds to being out there for the first time in two months.
“We’ve been taking it day by day with Angel, and she made the team on her own. She deserves to be on this team. We all want Angel on the team,” Stanford said. “We’re giving her the opportunity to play and see where she, and we agreed, ‘let’s play Boston, and then let’s reassess.”
Yin told Painter Lopez that she was unsure if she would play if the decision had to be made this week. However she won’t be on the plane to the Netherlands if she doesn’t plan to play.
A tough decision looms for Yin, Stanford and also the Americans. After two rusty rounds in Boston ma, that decision will arrive faster than anyone assumes. And how it’s answered will definitely participate in a significant function in what takes place in the Netherlands.