Open Championship Silver Linings for Lin

Sandwich, England: The Silver Medal may have eluded him, but there were plenty of silver linings for Lin Yuxin at Royal St George’s Golf Club.

With a final-round one-over-par 71 in the 149th Open Championship, the 20-year-old Chinese amateur underlined his reputation as one of Asia’s brightest golfing prospects.

It was the first time in four Major championship appearances that the left-hander had made the cut, a commendable effort and one that bodes well for the future of the two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) winner.

“This week has been just an unbelievable experience for me. Being able to play on the weekend, playing two extra rounds with the best players in the world, it's just a great experience for me,” said Lin, whose 72-hole total of six-over 286 gave him a share of 74th place.

One of only two amateurs to make the cut, he was pipped for the Silver Medal that is awarded to the low amateur by German Matthias Schmid (282).

That, however, could not take the gloss off a memorable week for the American college student, who insists he is in no rush to join the ranks of the professionals.

“I’ve learned a lot this week, just in general more about my game and areas to improve and what I'm doing well. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year,” said Lin, who returns Stateside with high hopes for mounting a challenge in the Western Amateur at the end of July and next month’s US Amateur.

There is also the tantalising prospect of becoming the first three-time winner of the AAC, the showpiece amateur event in Asia that only he and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama have won twice.

“To be alongside Matsuyama is a great achievement for me and I look forward to playing in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship again,” said Lin, who believes his performance at Royal St George’s will increase his belief that he belongs at the highest level – even though he’s aware there are elements of his game that need work.

He said: “I feel like I could have definitely done better, either on the greens or around the greens. I feel like I let a couple shots go throughout the week, and that's definitely one of the areas that I'm trying to improve on.

“There are other aspects as well – just all aspects in general, I think. But I feel I’m trending in the right direction.

“I need to keep working on my game, making sure I keep improving and becoming a better version of myself each day and just see what happens.

“I don’t have a timeframe for turning pro. Once I’m ready, I’ll know.”