SINGAPORE \u2013 In early February, Chinese golfer Yin Ruoning found herself outside her comfort zone. <\/p>\n
Bundled in a puffer jacket and beanie, she carried the Olympic torch through the streets of Milan as spectators cheered her on from the sidelines. <\/p>\n
It was unfamiliar territory\u00a0for the athlete, who competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics but had never been involved in the Winter Games. She was one of the\u00a010,001 torch bearers who were in charge of passing the flame on to its final destination in Milan for <\/p>\n the 2026 Winter Olympics,<\/p>\n <\/a> and the experience left a lasting impression on her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was running on the street, there were so many people on the side, and they were just waving and cheering,\u201d she said at a press conference on Feb 25, ahead of the Feb 26-March 1 HSBC Women\u2019s World Championship. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not about carrying the flame but it\u2019s more about carrying the hopes and the greatness, and I think those things are more inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n Hope and greatness can also describe the world No. 8\u2019s rise as a golfer.<\/p>\n Since joining the LPGA Tour in 2022, the 23-year-old has captured five titles, including the 2023 Women\u2019s PGA Championship.<\/p>\n While she was winless in 2025, she achieved three top-10 finishes and has her sights on bigger goals this season.<\/p>\n She has already had decent showings in 2026, placing tied-17th and tied-15th at the Tournament of Champions and Honda LPGA Thailand respectively.<\/p>\n Asked whether a Major is on her radar in 2026, she said: \u201cAbsolutely. Any Major is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Yin has shown her calibre as a contender on the prestigious circuit over the last four years, during which she also rose to the top of the world rankings in 2023.<\/p>\n Her quick ascent has also surprised her. She said: \u201cMy achievements are way ahead of what I was expecting.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I first got on tour, I thought maybe it\u2019ll be three years to get used to playing on the LPGA Tour, and after three years, we\u2019ll see what happens.<\/p>\n \u201cBut right now, this is my fifth year and I\u2019ve already got five wins and one Major. It\u2019s a privilege and I\u2019m just happy to be here and to be playing on the LPGA Tour.\u201d<\/p>\n She heads to Sentosa this week with confidence, hoping to continue her bright start to the season.<\/p>\n \u201cI was talking to my caddie and my coach last week. I said I think my game is sharper compared to at this time of any past years, so it\u2019s not as rusty,\u201d said Yin, who finished tied-21st at the 2025 edition.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m pretty excited about this week and I want to put on a good show.\u201d<\/p>\n Also looking to build on a stellar season\u00a0is Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan, who returns for the LPGA event after making her debut in 2025.<\/p>\n The 2025 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit winner will be one of the two Singaporeans in action at Sentosa Golf Club\u2019s Tanjong Course this week, alongside amateur Chen Xingtong, who is teeing off at the event for a third consecutive time.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Chen, 17, earned her spot in the 72-strong field after<\/p>\n winning the national qualifying event<\/p>\n <\/a> in January.<\/p>\n