'I Need To Raise The Rent' - Lin And Landlord Yin Tied In PGA Championship Chase

Xiyu Lin says her friend Ruoning Yin also rents her old house in Orlando as the two share second place after the first round of the Women's PGA Championship.

Ruoning Yin (L) and Xiyu Lin (R)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

While having compatriots as friends may be commonplace out on the PGA and LPGA Tour, there’s a unique relationship Xiyu Lin has with Ruoning Yin as technically her landlord in Orlando.

The Chinese pair sit together in tied second on the leaderboard after the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Batusrol, and that’s not the only way in which they’re close.

Having been on the LPGA since 2014, 27-year-old Lin has taken 20-year-old Yin under her wing somewhat since meeting her as a teenager – and that includes renting out her old house in Orlando to the youngster.

It’s meant for an interesting relationship between the two, with house matters sometimes taking precedent over golfing ones.

“We probably play together once every couple weeks when we're both there. We kind of have a different schedule,” said Lin. 

“Well, she lives in my house. She rented my old house. Unfortunately we've been dealing with some draining problems, so when I see her, I always feel so sorry, not with the golf but it's like the toilet is clogged or something.

“We finally fixed it like three weeks ago, which is great, so now we don't have any problems. But yeah, we live like 20 minutes from each other. She will come to my house when I need her to do something, and obviously I have the key - we kind of just go have dinner. We will meet every once in a while.”

While Lin is still waiting for her first LPGA title, Yin captured this season’s LA Open in just her second year on the circuit – which Lin says could result in a rent rise.

“After she win, I'm like, I need to raise the rent. It was way too low for you now,” Lin joked.

For her part, Yin was delighted her friend ‘Janet’ was up there with her on the leaderboard, who she says is like a big sister to her.

“I'm not surprised,” said Yin. “Janet, she has a pretty solid game, too, and I'm not surprised she can shoot 4-under at this course, maybe 5-under.

“It's amazing. I can see her name and my name together on the top of the leaderboard.

“I think I knew her, I met her five years ago. I think we got that click. That first time I met her, I know we're going to be good friends. She's a big sis, helped me a lot.”

TOPICS
Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.