R. Yin’s rent did go up after breakout season, and so did her fame

NAPLES, Florida – After her triumphant win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Ruoning Yin braced herself for a potential rent hike from her landlord and fellow LPGA Tour player Xiyu (Janet) Lin. The two had been vying for the top spot at the major championship, and Lin had slyly hinted at the possibility of a rent increase. It turns out, Lin wasn’t joking.

“Oh, she increase my rent. Not much. It’s still a reasonable price,” Yin said with a chuckle, before playfully urging Lin to fix the air conditioning in her Florida home. “I was like ‘Janet, fix it!’”

The rental increase is just one of the many adjustments Yin, who is making her debut at the CME Group Tour Championship, has encountered during this transformative season. She revealed that she is no longer able to blend into the crowd in her native China, recounting a recent incident where she was recognized while strolling down the street with her mother. Uncomfortable with her newfound fame, Yin comically mused about resorting to wearing a disguise in public.

“Two guys walked up to us and said, ‘Is that Ronni? Ronni, Ronni, Ronni.’ I just grabbed my mom and told her not to look back, just to keep walking,” Yin shared with a smile, commenting on her fans calling her by her nickname. “It feels a little weird. I’m definitely not used to it.”

While Yin may feel uneasy about her growing recognition, she is not shying away from embracing her achievements this season. She stands alongside Shanshan Feng as one of the only players from China to secure a major victory, and she has also followed in her idol’s footsteps by ascending to the number one spot in the world rankings, a feat she considers her greatest accomplishment.

“This has been my goal since I was 11. I always told people I wanted to be the world No. 1. That’s always been my goal,” Yin expressed about her four-week stint at the top ranking. “I didn’t expect to reach that spot so soon, but I think for me it was just a matter of time.”

With the breakout season she’s experienced, Yin certainly has the means to cover her increased rent. She currently ranks third on the money list with earnings exceeding $2.7 million, making her a strong contender for the $2-million winner’s check up for grabs this week.

Even the world’s best have rent to pay.