Angel Yin is currently riding high. The California native has recently clinched her second LPGA Tour title in Pattaya, Thailand. The Honda LPGA Thailand saw an intense battle to the end with Yin surviving by 1 stroke against a relentless Akie Iwai. Yin’s 28-under-par score was a result of her consistent display across all four days, allowing her to pocket $255,000 and 500 CME Globe Points.

This is only Yin’s second LPGA title, having claimed her first one in 2023, 7 years after turning professional. That was also a closely fought affair, with Yin prevailing over Lilia Vu in a playoff to clinch the Buick LPGA Shanghai. Let’s take a look at the support system that drives Yin’s success on the green.

The support system around Angel Yin

Her biggest source of support is undoubtedly her mother. Michelle Liu is a businesswoman who was born in China and later emigrated to the United States. Liu has been highly supportive of her child’s golfing career having caddied for her while she was in the amateur scene. Yin’s first paycheck from the Ladies European Tour was used to buy her mom a car. A clear indication of her mom’s influence in bringing the best out of her. Details about her father are not known to the public.

Yin has also had a strong caddie lineup throughout her career, including her mom. At the 2019 Solheim Cup, Mathew Galloway was her bagman. Galloway was a former caddie for the five-time LPGA Tour winner Michelle Wie West. In 2021 she worked with another experienced caddie Shaun Clews. Yin has also worked with Kris Maerke.

Her most memorable season was the 2023 one, in which her caddie was Markus Zechmann. The first time the pair were spotted together was during the Chevron Championship, where they nearly turned out to be the winning combo, finishing second after losing out in the playoff to Lilia Vu. Zechmann has been a bagman for a very long time on both the LET Tour and LPGA Tour. He also frequents as a PGA Teaching professional.

She then later teamed up with Michelle Simpson in 2024. Simpson was a former caddie of Brittany Lincicome and teamed up with Yin after the ANNIKA in 2024 when Lincicome retired. Simpson also has prior playing experience having featured on the Epson Tour from 2002 to 2007. “Being able to relate to the challenges players face. Also, I feel like having been at the same level helps me give advice that can be really beneficial,” Michelle Simpson explained the advantages her playing career brings to the table for Yin.

However, for her second PGA Tour victory in Thailand, Yin had a different bagman as her usual caddie was indisposed. Tom, as he is referred to by Yin, was of great help and guidance, eventually helping Yin to her well-deserved victory.

“Yeah, Tom. It’s been great because he’s actually a really — like a professional caddie. He caddies on the Senior Japanese Tour and the Asian Tour for his players. He has a lot of experience and he knows exactly what’s going on. He knows the course really well and speaks Thai, so it’s perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better backup caddie, honestly,” Yin summed up her experience with a new caddie at the third LPGA event of the year.

Angel Yin’s start to the 2025 LPGA season

An impressive victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand adds to Lin’s impressive start to the 2025 LPGA season. The Arcadia High School alum finished T18 at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions after notching an overall score of 4 under par. She then improved her position at the Founders Cup in the Bradenton Country Club in Florida, finishing an impressive 10th with a score of 11 under par.

She had a strong score of 10 under par after two days, but her performance over the weekend caused her to slip down into 10th. So, it was only a matter of time, before her first victory this season and it finally came at the third time of asking in Pattaya. The victory also puts her on the top of the standing in the Race to CME Globe with 623 CME points.

The real question is whether Angel Yin will be able to win her first major this season. She came agonizingly close two years ago at the Chevron Championship. Do you think this is the year she finally breaks out?