Rianne: Turning pro still a ‘vague picture’
‘I’m more likely to decide to turn pro when I feel the most confident about my game.’
Photograph by Marc Anthony Reyes for the daily tribune SHE may be the country’s hottest junior golfer out there, but Rianne Malixi is taking her own sweet time before jumping into the big leagues.
Despite her accomplishments at a young age, Rianne Malixi is not about to rush things. Especially about turning pro.
"I'm more likely to decide to turn pro when I feel the most confident about my game," said the 16-year-old Malixi.
"As of now, the idea of myself turning pro is still a vague picture. If I can see myself ready, then I will step onto the next rung of the ladder, playing professionally."
Malixi described her 2023 as a "solid year" although she didn't win as much as she did the previous year.
"I'd say I had a pretty solid campaign in 2023. I'd summarize it as a year of "almosts," Malixi said.
"Even if I didn't win as many events compared to 2022, I performed well, finishing inside the Top 10 in most events I played in."
Yet for the meantime, Malixi said her focus will be on campaigning in the United States as well as her forthcoming intake at Duke University.
Malixi captured two AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) tournaments, placed fourth in last year's Junior World in San Diego and racked up four victories on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
She also finished runner-up in the US Girls' Junior Championship.
"There were events that I was so close to winning them," added the rising star, referring to her second-place finish in the US Girls' in Colorado.
Concluding the season at No. 62 in the world's women's amateur ranking, Malixi recognizes the roller coaster nature of her international performances but emphasizes delivering her best showing in the US.