Angel Yin Confirmed for Solheim Cup After Illness, Weight Loss

By Staff Writer

September 10, 2026

3 min read

Key takeaways

Angel Yin, a two-time LPGA winner, lost 35 pounds during a gastrointestinal illness that began at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in late June.
She was hospitalized more than once, including a six-day stay, before returning to competition in late August with rounds of 81-76.
U.S. captain Angela Stanford confirmed Wednesday that Yin will play at least one team session and Sunday singles at Bernardus Golf.
Alternate Lilia Vu remains on standby only until Thursday's Opening Ceremony, after which no Solheim Cup substitutions are permitted.
Yin has gone 4-2 in her last two Solheim Cups and has five top-10 finishes in her last nine major starts.

Angel Yin, a two-time LPGA winner who spent parts of the summer hospitalized with a gastrointestinal illness, will play in this week's Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, U.S. captain Angela Stanford confirmed Wednesday.

What happened to Yin this summer?

Yin, then ranked 16th in the world, opened the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in late June with a one-under 71 at Hazeltine National before checking into a hospital with stomach pain. She played the next round anyway, shooting another 71 to make the cut by two shots, then returned to the hospital that Saturday and was unable to finish the tournament. In total, Yin was hospitalized for six days before flying home to Florida.

The gastrointestinal problems continued for weeks. Yin limited her diet to rice, boiled chicken and cooked vegetables, and lost 35 pounds in the process without trying to.

How has she played since returning?

Yin returned to competition in late August at the FM Championship at TPC Boston, roughly two months after her hospital stay began. The scores were rough: 81 and 76. The Solheim Cup, for which she had already qualified, was less than two weeks away.

Yin's scorecard problem started as a hospital problem, and the deadline that matters this week is the Opening Ceremony, not her scoring average.

Will Yin play every session?

Under the captain's agreement between Stanford and European counterpart Anna Nordqvist, every healthy player must play at least once across the first two days of team sessions. Yin has been going through practice rounds at Bernardus Golf this week and told reporters Wednesday she was "feeling great."

Stanford, who had kept alternate Lilia Vu ready as a backup plan throughout Yin's recovery, confirmed Yin will play. "She will play because that's in the spirit of this competition," Stanford said.

Vu's window to step in closes once the Opening Ceremony begins Thursday evening; after that, no substitutions are allowed. A withdrawal past that point would force a team to play with 11 players and forfeit a point in Sunday singles.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 Solheim Cup?

The 2026 Solheim Cup is played Sept. 11-13 at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, with the Opening Ceremony Thursday evening.

Who is Lilia Vu?

Vu is a former world No. 1 serving as Team USA's alternate. She is on standby to replace an injured or ill player until the Opening Ceremony, after which substitutions are no longer allowed.

What is Angel Yin's Solheim Cup record?

Yin has two LPGA wins, a combined 4-2 record over her last two Solheim Cups, and five top-10 finishes in her last nine major starts.

What happens if a Solheim Cup player withdraws after the Opening Ceremony?

Once the Opening Ceremony begins, no replacements are permitted. A team that loses a player to withdrawal after that point plays with 11 golfers and forfeits a point in Sunday singles.