Angel Yin secured her second career victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand on Sunday with a remarkable 28-under 260, edging out Japanese rookie Akie Iwai by one stroke. Yin’s flawless final-round 65 was crucial in holding off Iwai, who had mounted a late charge. “I wasn’t that comfortable because Akie shot 10 under the first day, and this course is very gettable. So I just had to keep my head down,” Yin reflected on the pressure she faced during the closing round. Despite starting the final day with a five-stroke advantage, Yin faced relentless competition from Iwai, who briefly tied her at 24-under with a birdie on the 12th hole.

But, Yin responded with three consecutive birdies, regaining control of the lead and never looking back. However, what made Yin’s victory even more remarkable was the unexpected challenge she faced on the bag. Just before the tournament began, Yin’s regular caddie, Michelle Simpson, fell ill, leaving her in need of an emergency replacement. Enter Sakchai “Tom” Sirimaya, a professional caddie with experience on the Japanese Senior Tour and the Asian Tour. With no time to spare, Tom stepped in to fill the void. “It was like three minutes before my [Thursday] tee time, and I was expecting him to be someone’s dad,” Yin recalled with a smile.

Yin’s bag was notoriously heavy, and it wasn’t just anyone who could handle it. “My friend who is my manager, tried and she almost fell over. She weighs as much as the golf bag, so no way was going to happen,” she said. They were in desperate need of a caddie, and Tom’s expertise proved invaluable. “Tom was like, ‘Oh, I’m a professional caddie.’ You really can’t pick someone that good just out of nowhere, and so he was on my bag.” It’s not every day that a caddie steps in at the last minute to help secure a victory, but Tom’s presence may have been just the good luck Yin needed. The victory was even more impressive considering the unexpected circumstances, with Yin managing to stay composed throughout the week with a caddie she’d never worked with before.

As for Iwai, despite finishing second, she made history of her own by shooting a tournament-low round of 61, which included 10 birdies and a closing eagle. Although she fell just short of the win, her performance was a major highlight of the event. Angel Yin’s triumph, under the guidance of an emergency caddie, adds a compelling chapter to her journey.

It’s a reminder that in golf, as in life, sometimes unexpected challenges bring out the best in people – both players and caddies alike. This is definitely not the first time that a fill-in caddie has worked out so well for a player.

Wonders by fill-in caddies in the golf world

There are countless instances in golf where players are forced to rely on fill-in caddies and end up having unremarkable tournaments. But then there are those rare moments when a player’s game hits new heights, all thanks to a substitute caddie. Take, for example, Bob MacIntyre’s dad stepping in to caddie for him at the Canadian Open last season, leading to an emotional victory. Or Fred Couples, who shot a blistering 60 with a brand-new caddie on the bag. Tommy Fleetwood relied on a local caddie to land a spot on the podium at Augusta, while Max Homa triumphed in South Africa with a friend acting as his caddie.

The list goes on—Matt Kuchar’s win in Mayakoba with a fill-in caddie, Sungjae Im clinching a victory with his buddy’s first week on the bag, and even Sergio Garcia winning with a local caddie at the 2012 Wyndham Championship. Is there a pattern here? Does this mean caddies don’t matter? Hardly. While it’s tough to measure the true impact of a caddie statistically, there’s something to be said for the power of a change in pace. Caddies might not always be the ones reading the greens or making swing adjustments, but their presence can bring something intangible to the table. They can hold players accountable, help them snap out of bad habits, or simply change the dynamic in a way that elevates performance.

Much like in the NBA, where teams sometimes perform better in the short term when a key player is absent, golf professionals can rise to the occasion when there’s a shift in the usual rhythm. It doesn’t mean the team—or in this case, the player—is better off without their regular caddie, but sometimes, a small change is all it takes to get back on track. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section below!