The tables at the ongoing RBC Canadian Open have turned all of a sudden. The leader board which until yesterday was seeing names like Tyrrell Hatton leading, after its third round on Saturday saw Taiwanese golfer Pan Cheng-Tsung climbing the top of the ladder with back-to-back birdies.
Following him in the second position in a tie are Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, and two others. As C.T. Pan delivers this unexpected performance at the RBC, let’s learn about his wife who has played a major role in his success, and she has also joined him on the course many times as his caddie!
Who is Pan Cheng-Tsung‘s wife Ying-Chun Lin?
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Ying Chun is currently a research scientist at Child Trends. She researches upon “the factors that affect low-income children’s access to high-quality early care and education.” Prior to that she was a Postdoctoral Associate at the Social Science Research Institute at Duke University, and has also been a Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Wisconsin. Ying is also a dedicated partner who has been a constant source of support in Pan’s life throughout his golfing career. Both on and off course, she takes her job very seriously and at times plays the role of a friend and guide to her husband. She has toured with him around the world for a long time now. The couple got married in December 2016.
After their marriage, Ying took a very important responsibility on her shoulders of being Pan’s caddie: a task earlier performed by Pan’s father before he passed away in 2010. She caddied for him at the 2018 Wyndham Championship, which he jokingly called the “trial of their marriage”. Lady luck favored him as he played a fantastic game and tied for second place leaving behind players like Jim Furyk and Sergio Garcia. The couple also took home the prize of $528,000. She has also been his caddie at the RBC Heritage 2020 and at the 2021 Olympics and many more events.
Ying-Chun Lin’s role in Pan’s first PGA Tour win
Pan achieved his first PGA victory in 2019 at the RBC Heritage played at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. With this victory, Pan made his country proud by becoming the second Taiwanese golfer to win a PGA Tour event after Chen Tze-chung who won at the 1987 Los Angeles Open. Interestingly his wife was the biggest reason behind his victory. During Heritage Week, Pan wished to attend a junior event in Houston which he helped in organizing. But fate had other plans as Ying Chun convinced him to attend the RBC event rather than visit Houston and promised to manage things there herself. Later praising his wife for her contribution Pan said “Just listen to your wife, and you will have a good life. She’s right, always.” Pan always gives a shoutout to his wife on social media. His Instagram is a testament to Pan’s adoration for her.
He celebrates the love between them.
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Pan thanks Ying for being his caddie.
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Pan Cheng and Ying-Chun fought the odds during COVID to play golf
During the COVID era, the couple found new and innovative ways of traveling that did not stop them from playing golf. Ditching the luxurious and extravagant private planes, the couple bought an RV and went on the road driving from tournament to tournament. “Before we bought the RV we searched out the routes between tournaments. It’s not that bad.” Pan had said. They traveled through states while maintaining protocol. For the couple, it was an easy method of traveling that offered safety as well, which was the highest need of the pandemic era. In fact, before sponsored flights became a thing some years ago, this is how players use to travel to reach the events.
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Pan has been on the right track and has made some glorious achievements. He won two gold medals at the 2014 Asian Games, played in the 2019 Presidents Cup, and won a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics. Fans now wait to see if he could emerge a winner at the Canadian Open as well.
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