Angel Yin has been grappling with a lingering illness that threatened to keep her off the Solheim Cup roster, yet she has repeatedly emphasized that she would never compromise Team USA's pursuit of an overseas victory in the Netherlands. Yin earned her place automatically through the U.S. Solheim Cup points list, joining captain Angela Stanford’s squad that is aiming to defend the trophy at Bernardus Golf and secure the first away win over Team Europe since 2015.
The 27‑year‑old has not completed a full 72‑hole tournament since May, and her only appearance on the LPGA Tour since June ended in a missed cut, where she fell short by 13 strokes after returning from an undisclosed stomach ailment. The illness has taken a heavy physical toll, with Yin shedding more than two and a half stone in weight, prompting serious doubts about her ability to compete at the highest level.
Throughout this difficult period, she has expressed deep gratitude for the unwavering support she received from captain Stanford, who has been a steady presence as Yin weighed her options. When asked during her pre‑tournament press conference whether she had considered sitting out, Yin answered candidly: "Yes, of course. I know it sounds crazy that I’m here because I played a week ago in Boston and it obviously wasn’t great.
It wasn’t ideal. Those rounds of 81 and 76 are not the kind of scores you want to bring out when you’re supposed to help America bring home the Cup." She went on to explain the emotional and mental work she has been doing: "I’ve been working hard, I’ve been trying everything I can, because this is the biggest event in women’s golf. We know this is going to be a big deal, because this is the 20th Solheim Cup. I wanted to be honest, because I would never jeopardise America.
I had honest talks with myself in the mirror, with my team, and obviously with Angela. She’s the only other person – other than my family – that I’ve kept updated throughout all of this." Yin described a pivotal conversation with Stanford that ultimately sealed her participation. "We all agreed on this and she wanted me here. I had my caddie ask her, ‘Do you want me here?’ And if she had said no, I wouldn’t be here.
But she said yes. With belief like that and confidence from her to back me, why wouldn’t I show up?" she said.
Captain Stanford reinforced her confidence in Yin during Tuesday’s press conference, confirming that Yin will be part of the playing roster despite the presence of former world No. 1 Lilia Vu, who was on‑site in uniform and listed as a potential last‑minute alternate. Yin’s preparation continued on Wednesday, where she took the front nine alone before joining the rest of Team USA on the back nine. The two‑time LPGA Tour winner reported that her game was showing encouraging signs as the crucial week approached.
"I’m feeling great," Yin remarked. "Everyone has different opinions, but I personally think my game is not bad. Every day it’s getting better.
It’s like art, right? Everybody has a different opinion, but results are the only thing that matters." She added a note of humility about the captain’s ultimate authority: "I can say and be confident as much as I want, but ultimately it’s up to the captain, because she needs to be responsible for us. I just need to do my part and then I just need to wait for her call. Whatever she does and whatever she says will, in my opinion, be the best decision because we trust her and she’s been leading us great." Yin’s on‑course form during practice matches has helped to silence skeptics.
Partnering with Yealimi Noh, she and her teammate defeated Alison Lee and Megan Khang in a practice bout, prompting Lee to praise Yin’s determination. "Angel is playing great golf," Lee said. "She’s working hard, she’s putting in the work, and she’s probably the hardest working out here.
She wants to make the reps, wants to put in the effort. She’s obviously earned her spot here and she’s doing her best to give her best, so there’s nothing but great things to say about her." The Solheim Cup coverage on Sky Sports Golf will feature at least twelve hours of live broadcast across the first two days. The action kicks off at 6 a.m.
on Friday and Saturday, leading into the opening foursomes match at 6:40 a.m. (7:40 a.m. local time).
The afternoon four‑ball sessions are slated for 12:05 p.m. (1:05 p.m. local), with continuous coverage through the final putt. Sunday’s singles competition begins at 9 a.m., with the opening tee shot at 10:10 a.m.
Sky Sports+ will air the closing ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday after the champion is crowned, while the opening ceremony on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. will unveil the day‑one pairings.
The stakes are high: Team Europe is eager to reclaim the trophy, while Team USA hopes to cement a historic 20th Solheim Cup victory on foreign soil. Yin’s personal battle with illness, her weight loss, and her determination to contribute despite recent poor scores add a compelling human narrative to the broader competition.
Her story underscores the resilience required at the elite level of women’s golf and highlights the trust between a captain and her players. Whether Yin’s performance will translate into points for the United States remains to be seen, but her commitment to the team and her willingness to confront adversity head‑on exemplify the spirit of the Solheim Cup.