Angel Yin loves team competitions. She excelled in her first go-round with Team USA at the Solheim Cup as a rookie in 2017.
It probably won't come as a surprise what her 2018 goal was at the start of the year - to qualify for the UL International Crown.
The daunting challenge - considering only four players per country qualify - is part of the reason why Yin struggled at the start of the year. She was pressing.
Trying to pass the likes of Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie - four giants of the game - is a tall order for anyone, let alone a 19-year-old second-year pro.
"(At the) Beginning of the year, I started off a little rough, not what I wanted because I was trying to make a run for the (UL) International Crown," explained Yin, who didn't finish inside the top 30 in her first eight starts. "I'm playing better now and I still have more tournaments before it's decided."
Yin definitely gave herself a boost at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship when she carded a final round 67 to finish in a tie for third. She moved up eight spots in the world rankings.
Here are the facts.
Wie is currently the fourth highest ranked American at No. 18 in the world. Yin is the 13th highest ranked at No. 50. Players have until July 2nd to qualify for the team so that means Yin still has seven more tournaments to try and climb the world rankings. It's also important to note that there are two majors - the U.S. Women's Open and the KPMG Women's PGA Championship - amongst the seven events. Majors have the highest strength of fields and therefore provide the greatest opportunity to jump up the rankings.
Is it possible? Absolutely. Will it be difficult? Absolutely.
"I just want to experience more team play so I'm going to try my best," said Yin. "I really want to represent America and go to Korea."
Yin has put herself in position at the Kingsmill Championship this weekend to move up the rankings. She has tallied 11 birdies against just two bogeys through 36 holes.
"I'm happy with my game right now," said Yin. "Not everything is perfect with my game right now, but it's golf, you don't need to be perfect."
Yin is 18-under over her last five rounds. She might be peaking at exactly the right time.
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