Ruoning Yin, who also goes by the nickname Ronni, is a rising star in women’s golf. At just 22, the Chinese golf sensation has already claimed major championships, reached the pinnacle of the World Rankings, and secured a prestigious partnership with Rolex.
Her journey started in her hometown of Kunming, China, where she honed her skills under her father’s guidance before training with American coach, Jim Johnson. Turning pro in 2020, she made an immediate impact, winning her first three events on the China Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.
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More victories followed in rapid succession, culminating in the pinnacle achievement of winning the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. In doing so, she became the second women’s Major championship winner from China. Last year, she enjoyed a successful 2024 season amassing five victories on the LPGA Tour—the Dow Championship, the Buick LPGA Shanghai, and the Maybank Championship.
Yin became a Rolex Testimonee last year—a testament to her incredible talent and her unwavering commitment to the game. Rolex, for the past 60 years, has been committed to supporting athletes. The watchmaker has also been a dedicated partner of the LPGA since 1980, and is the founding sponsor of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
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ELLE caught up with Yin at the recent HSBC Women’s World Championship in Sentosa. To make things a little more interesting, we roped in our own national golfer Hailey Loh, 21, to conduct the interview. “I learnt quite a lot talking to her,” quips Loh. “I feel like I’m just as competitive as she is. It’s hard to feel any joy when you’re under these really pressuring circumstances.
Loh continues: "Ruoning kept mentioning how having fun helps her stay in the present—because not everyone gets the privilege to do this. And, honestly, you could be doing worse things than having a nice round of golf, right?”
Their conversation explores the triumphs, challenges and values that drive Yin.
Was there a specific moment when you realised golfing is what you want to do for the rest of your life?
I held my first club at four—accidentally hitting my dad on the head with it—and never played again until I was 10, when I attended my first summer camp in Kunming. Actually, my mum had to bribe me with movie outings to get me to go! I shot my first under-par round at 11 and broke par at 14. I started winning a lot and grew to love the game.
As the second Chinese golfer to win the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, what did it mean to you?
That is definitely one of my milestones. Winning a Major is really special, especially as I’m only the second woman from China to do so. It gave me a lot of confidence and made me believe that I’m capable of competing at this level against the big players.
How has your life changed since then?
A lot, honestly. When I won the KPMG championship—my fourth major tournament—I wasn’t expecting it. I focused on learning from the game, and then I won, which made me think I could achieve more. The increased media requests and recognition boosted my self-belief. When I played in Shanghai last year, many junior golfers came to watch, saying, “Ronni, you’re my idol!” That was special because I used to be in their shoes, and I still feel like a kid at heart. Hearing that inspires and motivates me to improve, so I strive to do my best both on and off the course, and to be a good role model.
What’s the biggest challenge you face as a professional athlete. How do you overcome it?
The biggest challenge is that golf has become a job, rather than just a fun activity. In the beginning, I felt stressed because I now had to perform well to make a living from it. You need to believe in yourself to succeed. Becoming the World No. 1 is always my goal but at the end of the day, that’s just a title. Winning is more important to me than the World Ranking. What I love about golf is that you can do everything right, yet things may not go your way. It’s similar to life: A good life can lead to a bad break, and a bad life can yield a good break. That’s just how the universe works.
Life on tour can be incredibly demanding. How do you balance competition, recovery and fun?
I believe that all three can coexist. Golf is difficult, but it can also be enjoyable. Maintaining a fun mindset while competing is good for your mental health. Last year, when I injured my hand, I knew I wouldn’t be able to make some shots. But instead of feeling down, I reminded myself how much I love the sport. When I focused on that, nothing else mattered; I was just happy to be there.
How do you like to unwind?
I train for four to six hours daily. On my weeks off, I enjoy playing basketball, tennis, badminton, and swimming—I did a lot of sports growing up. To unwind, I like to stay home and have tea with my mum. I think I have an old soul. I don’t like going out; I prefer being at home.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Enjoy the process. When I was younger, I would get incredibly upset when I lost. I would say, to enjoy the journey because sometimes, you learn more from failure than success. Golf can teach you many things, whether it’s physical endurance or remaining calm under pressure. Once you understand that, you will excel in the game.
How does it feel to be part of the Rolex family as a Testimonee?
When you think of Rolex, sporting names like Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler and Roger Federer come to mind. Being part of this community is a dream come true for me. Rolex represents excellence, precision and quality. The watches are incredibly accurate, and I love them. I have a list of watches I want, including the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona that I currently wear. It reflects my personality perfectly—just cool.
How do you view Rolex’s impact on women’s golf, both for the players and the development of the sport?
Rolex is very selective about its partnerships. Its support in women’s golf helps validate our sport and empowers players to pursue excellence. I hope to elevate and promote golf in China. I believe that if I keep winning, I can achieve anything. You can’t make an impact if you’re a nobody.
What are the biggest goals for yourself this year?
Right now, I’m focused on refining my golf technique and becoming more consistent. I’m a fairly good ball striker, but I need to improve my driving accuracy to hit more fairways. I just try to improve every day so my game will be on point. My approach is simple—do one per cent better every day, and by the end of the year, that progress will add up.