Chinese sensation Yan Liu was born on July 7, 1997, in Beijing. With almost $250,000 in earnings in 2024, she has shown glimpses of her ability with some impressive performances. Her best round this season was a 66 that she shot during the Kroger Queen City Championship. ​

She has been playing golf since she was 11 years old and turned pro when she was 19. She has credited her coaches for developing her interest in golf. She initially joined the Ladies European Tour and later went back to China. She went on to win her first professional title at the 2019 Hong Kong Ladies Open.

How has Yan Liu’s career been so far?

Her first career win came in wire-to-wire fashion at the Four Winds Invitational in 2022. She also won the 2022 Redtail Women’s Championship that year, making it her first American win. She claimed that the win helped build her confidence and made her realize she could be successful on the LPGA Tour. She was elated after the win, as she said, “My first American win means a lot. I’m really proud of myself. This Tour and this tournament really help build my confidence so I can know I can make it to the LPGA Tour.”

While playing on the Epson Tour in 2022, Liu managed four top-10 finishes. She also made 17 cuts in 21 starts, which established her as a rising star. This helped her secure an LPGA Tour Card for the 2023 season. She is ranked 94th in the CME Globe rankings in 2024. In 2023, Liu had a standout performance at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, where she finished solo in third place. This was the best result of the season for her.

Although her first season was tumultuous, she did finish in the top 25 multiple times. Her season highlight has to be her hole-in-one that she shot during the 2024 Kroger Queen City Championship. This event also raised donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by donating $20,000 for every ace. The initiative raised close to $300,000 for the hospital this year alone.

Yan Liu’s personal life explored

Although not much is known about her personal life, it seems like Liu likes working out, with her Instagram having a photo of her performing a very difficult stretch. She also regularly thanks the course staff after events for their efforts, which shows her compassion and empathy.

Her quiet yet confident demeanor on the course and her interviews show her mental strength. During her win at the 2022 Four Winds Invitational, Liu was in a three-way playoff after she lost her lead with bogeys on the 15th and 17th holes. She overcame a pressure situation by birdieing the 18th hole, forcing a playoff that she ultimately won. While discussing her journey in the LPGA in 2023, Liu made a statement saying, “I’m a generally shy person. [My coach] was able to show me how I could be expressive and outgoing on the course.”

It is also important to note that Liu has also had to go through drastic cultural differences she must have had to face when making the switch to the LPGA. Calling it a “24-hour job,” she explained that her rigorous training, extensive travel, and strict diet were making her feel like she was “on her own in a new environment.” By overcoming such challenges early in her career, she seems to have developed a resilient mind and also gained the ability to adapt to changes. This is an important skill to have given how dynamic golf is as a sport.

What do you think of Yan Liu’s prospects? Let us know in the comments!