Yan Liu Bio
Yan Liu is a Chinese professional golfer born on 7 July 1997 in Beijing, China. She began playing golf at the age of 11 after being introduced to the game by her mother, a keen amateur player, and turned professional at 19, initially joining the Ladies European Tour in 2017. Since then, Liu has competed on multiple tours, including the China LPGA Tour and the Epson Tour, before reaching the LPGA Tour in 2023. She has claimed two professional victories and is recognized for her performances in major championships, including a memorable albatross at the 2025 Chevron Championship.
Early Life and Background
Yan Liu was born in Beijing, China, on 7 July 1997. She grew up in a household connected to the sport, as her mother was a keen amateur golfer who introduced her to the game. That early exposure played a key role in shaping her interest in the sport and led her to pick up a club at age 11.
From her first swings in Beijing, Liu showed steady progress through youth and amateur golf in China. Her development during her teenage years laid the foundation for a career that would eventually take her across multiple professional tours. By the time she was ready to turn professional, she had built the skills and temperament to compete on an international stage.
Path to Professional Golf
Liu turned professional at age 19 in 2017, joining the Ladies European Tour as her first international circuit. Looking back, she later admitted that she was not fully ready for the level of competition she faced in Europe, a humbling experience that pushed her to return home and rebuild her game.
Back in China, Liu competed on the China LPGA Tour, where she sharpened her competitive edge. In 2019, she recorded her first professional victory at the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open, a breakthrough that confirmed she could win at the professional level. She then took the next step in her development by joining the Epson Tour, the official qualifying tour of the LPGA, in 2020, setting her sights on earning a full LPGA Tour card.
Yan Liu Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Liu began her professional career in 2017 on the Ladies European Tour, a move that gave her early exposure to international competition. The experience proved challenging, and she soon returned to China to play on the China LPGA Tour, where she could compete more consistently and build confidence.
In 2019, Liu captured her first professional title at the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open, a significant milestone that marked her arrival as a winner. That victory helped establish her as one of the promising Chinese players of her generation and set the stage for her move to the Epson Tour the following year.
Epson Tour Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Liu joined the Epson Tour in 2020, using the circuit as a pathway back to the highest level of women’s golf. She spent the early part of her Epson Tour tenure learning the rhythm of weekly competition in the United States, gradually adjusting her game and her schedule to the demands of the tour.
In 2022, Liu won the Four Winds Invitational, her first victory on the Epson Tour. That same season, she finished ninth on the Epson Tour money list, a strong result that earned her LPGA Tour membership. Her consistent play across the season confirmed that she was ready to compete at the top level of women’s professional golf.
LPGA Tour Era (2023–Present)
Liu made her LPGA Tour debut in 2023 and quickly showed she belonged. During her rookie season, she made a hole-in-one at the Kroger Queen City Championship and recorded a tied third-place finish at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, two of the most memorable moments of her first year. She played in 23 events and made 14 cuts, a solid foundation for a rookie campaign.
In 2025, Liu produced one of the most talked-about moments of the LPGA season when she made an albatross at the Chevron Championship to take an early lead in the event. The rare feat had been accomplished only 30 times on the LPGA Tour between 1971 and 2023, underscoring just how special the shot was. She has continued to compete in major championships, with results including a T9 at the 2025 Chevron Championship, a T19 at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open, a T19 at the 2025 Women’s British Open, a T45 at the 2025 Women’s PGA Championship, and a T61 at the 2023 Evian Championship.
Notable Events and Milestones
Liu’s career has been marked by a series of standout moments, beginning with her first professional win at the 2019 EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open. Her 2022 victory at the Four Winds Invitational secured her LPGA Tour card, and her rookie-year hole-in-one at the 2023 Kroger Queen City Championship announced her presence on the biggest stage. Most recently, her albatross at the 2025 Chevron Championship stands as one of the rarest shots in recent LPGA history.
Yan Liu Career Wins
Yan Liu has recorded two professional victories across her career, spanning the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, the Epson Tour, and other professional circuits. Her wins reflect steady progression through multiple tours, beginning in Asia and culminating in a successful campaign on the Epson Tour that earned her a place on the LPGA Tour.
Professional Wins Highlights
Liu’s first professional victory came at the 2019 EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open, a breakthrough title that confirmed her potential. She added a second win at the 2022 Four Winds Invitational on the Epson Tour, a result that secured ninth place on the Epson Tour money list and earned her LPGA Tour membership for the following season.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her two headline victories, Liu has piled up consistent finishes across the China LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, and the LPGA Tour. Her major-championship results, including a T9 at the 2025 Chevron Championship and a T3 at the 2023 ShopRite LPGA Classic, highlight her ability to compete with the best players in the world.
Yan Liu Family
Family Background and Golf Lineage
Yan Liu was introduced to golf by her mother, a keen amateur player whose love of the game sparked her daughter’s interest. That early family connection to the sport played a defining role in Liu’s decision to pick up a club at age 11 and pursue golf as a career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been one of the most notable of Yan Liu’s career, highlighted by her stunning albatross at the Chevron Championship, a rare shot that gave her an early lead in the event. That moment placed her in the spotlight and added to a growing list of headline performances since she joined the LPGA Tour. She has continued to feature in major championships throughout the year, with a T9 at the Chevron Championship, a T45 at the Women’s PGA Championship, and a T19 at the Women’s British Open.
Liu’s major-championship form in 2025 shows a player who is increasingly comfortable on the biggest stages of women’s golf. Her T9 at the Chevron Championship marked one of her best major results to date and reflected the gains she has made in scoring and course management since her rookie year. Combined with consistent cuts made on the LPGA Tour, her 2025 results suggest she is firmly established as a contender heading into the next phase of her career.