10 hours ago
Mirabel happy to wait as LPGA dream takes shape
KUALA LUMPUR: With accolades piling up and history already made, Malaysia's top golf prospect Mirabel Ting has every reason to consider turning professional.
But the 19-year-old Miri-born is choosing to stay grounded.
Despite winning the prestigious Annika Award, being named WGCA Player of the Year, and reaching a career-best No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), Mirabel remains committed to finishing her senior year at Florida State University.
Mirabel meteoric rise came on the back of a phenomenal 2024/25 season, during which she clinched five titles on the US collegiate circuit.
"I just want to play golf and do what I can," said Mirabel.
"If things lead to a different path, then it's a different path."
It's a line that reflects her maturity and adaptability — a recognition that while she's fully invested in college golf, she's also aware of what could lie ahead.
Mirabel has already accumulated 10 points under the LPGA Tour's LEAP (LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway) program, which rewards top-performing amateur golfers with a chance to bypass the notoriously competitive Q School.
Points are awarded across five categories: highest WAGR ranking, performances in LPGA events, major amateur titles, year-end awards, and team selections. Reaching the 20-point threshold grants a player direct access to the LPGA Tour.
Mirabel currently sits at 10 points — two each from winning the Annika Award, being named WGCA Player of the Year, and achieving a WAGR ranking of No. 2.
She also picked up three points from three consecutive Palmer Cup appearances (2023–2025) and one point from a top-40 finish at last year's Maybank Championship, where she placed 12th.
Another 10 points would seal her place on the LPGA Tour — a tall order, but not out of reach.
She has upcoming opportunities to add to her tally, including the Amundi Evian Championship in France next month — one of the LPGA's five majors — and a return to Malaysia for the Maybank Championship in October.
"I'm actually 10 points away from getting the Tour card," she said.
"But again, it's nearly impossible. I would need to have another season like this year — or even better — to actually get all the points by the end of the year."
That measured realism is what sets Mirabel apart. Instead of rushing into the pro ranks, she's opting to build steadily — enjoying college life, honing her skills, and flying the Malaysian flag high on both collegiate and international stages.
"It means a lot," she said of her Annika Award win.
"I wasn't actually sure I was the first Asian to win it. I just did what I've always done — practice hard and believe in myself. Surprisingly, I did it. I feel like I've made Malaysia proud."
With her trailblazing success, Mirabel now finds herself in a position to inspire the next wave of Malaysian golfers — a role she embraces with humility.
"I was once young and looked up to Michelle (Koh, Rio 2016 Olympian) and Kelly (Tan, sole Malaysian representative on the LPGA Tour in the past one decade). Being a role model is challenging, but if you have the opportunity, why not? I'm just trying to enjoy it, embrace it, and take it day by day."
