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She Was Chasing Her First Win. She Found Something Bigger.

05/21/26

Their Journey is a special series on The Bright Side to highlight personal stories of faith, struggle, growth, and the unexpected ways people find their way forward.

Miranda Wang is a professional golfer from China who competes on the LPGA Tour. A standout rookie, she earned her first LPGA title at the 2025 FM Championship.

When Miranda Wang moved from China to California at 15, she was carrying more than golf clubs. She was adjusting to a new country, a new language, and a new life—all while competing against some of the best junior golfers in America.

Like many people navigating a difficult season, she found herself looking for strength, guidance, and peace.

In this edition of Their Journey, Miranda shares how a Bible became a source of comfort during her high school days, how a simple quote from Stephen Curry found its way into her yardage book, and how faith began shaping not only her golf game—but her life and family as well.

Q: When you look back over your life so far—from growing up in a family without a Christian background to where you are today—do you see a moment or season where your faith journey really began?

My family moved to California from China when I was 15 years old. I was a sophomore in high school and was playing golf competitions around the country. It was not easy when I had to compete with the best junior players in America while adapting to a new environment/learning a new language. I had a hard time in my first year living in America, so I was looking for help or guidance. Even before coming to America, a good friend of my dad gave me a duolingo Bible. I’ve always had it with me, but really started reading the scriptures and started loving God when I was looking for peace and strength in my high school days.

There’s also a moment that changed my life: I was very competitive in junior golf and I was looking for my 1st win in America. But it was hard to make a breakthrough because I tend to be overwhelmed by the pressure… until I watched Stephen Curry’s interview, in which he said “all glory belongs to God”. I wrote this into my yardage book, and said this to myself in my competition. It strengthened my heart that I felt so calm under pressure, and soon I got my 1st win. It was the first time that I felt God was with me, helping me, and shaping me.

Q: How would you describe your faith today, especially as someone who is still early in that journey?

I was baptized earlier this year (April 12)! I’m very blessed to have met some great people/mentors along the way. In my faith journey, I was not alone in each of my steps. Community means a lot to me, there are some great people/examples that I’m learning from, and there are people whom I love to talk to when I’m confused.

Since faith is new for you and your family, what has that experience been like personally and within your family dynamic?

My parents are very supportive. They were really happy for me when I told them I have decided to follow Jesus Christ and get baptized. My mom recently started going to church with me, and we love reading the Bible together and do prayers together. God is doing his amazing work in my family, He led us to this new life and welcome us all, we all feel so blessed.

Golf, Travel, and Loneliness

Q: Your first year on the LPGA Tour has been incredibly successful, but also demanding. What was that transition like for you off the course?

Playing on the LPGA tour means lots of travels and performing under pressure. Off the course, I make sure that I spend time reading the Bible. In the beginning of my rookie year on tour, I happened to be reading Psalm 23. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” I felt the golf course is very much like the scene in Psalm 23, where there’s green pastures and still waters, and my shepherd our God being there with me. God’s peace and grace really helped me to get through that challenging rookie season.

Q: You’ve mentioned that life on tour can feel isolating at times. How did that sense of loneliness impact you personally?

Because golf is an individual sport, so it makes players feel lonely sometimes. I look at it from a positive perspective: I get to spend more time with God. I actually enjoy being in the room alone after practice/compete. I get to calm down, take care of my body, and enjoy reading.

Q: There was a fellow player who stood out to you and sparked your curiosity about faith. What was it about that interaction that stayed with you?

I met a good friend back in my junior golf days. We both play on the LPGA’s tour now. She’s a great player and a great person. She, like Stephen Curry, loves God, faithful, humble, and talented as an athlete. I often get amazed by how good she is, not only her ability to play golf, but also her personality. It just makes me want to become someone like her. To me it was obvious that learning to be a faithful person would be the first step. I think God gave us good examples in life, and she’s one of them.

Turning Point / Coming to Faith

Q: At some point, you reached out to a friend back home and had a conversation that led to you giving your life to Christ. Can you walk us through that moment?

I felt a deep conviction at the beginning of last year that, after years of learning about God and experiencing His blessings, I could no longer deny my love for Him.

Q: What did that decision feel like at the time—was it gradual, sudden, or something in between?

It was gradual. My faith journey started 9 years ago when I was in high school. But as a teenager/college student, I had many uncertainties about my life and this world. Back then it almost felt like: I believed there’s God, He’s over watching me and everyone else, He does great work, but do I want to be committed to a certain religion? I was not sure about it until last year.

Q: Looking back, do you see that moment as a turning point in how you view your life and career?

Now looking back, I feel like golf is a path that God led me to find Him. In this sport He teaches me his wisdom. In life Jesus teaches me the way to live. It was not a single moment that I could call a turning point, and I think God’s work is continuing in me.

Faith in the Midst of Competition

Q: Golf is such a mental and emotional game. Has your new faith begun to shape how you handle pressure, expectations, or success?

Yes, I used to be emotional on the course, nervous in competitions, and overthink about the results. Those bad emotions are going away since I found my faith. I would write down my favorite Bible verses into my yardage book. It really helps me to calm down and feel God’s presence.

Q: You’ve already achieved a major milestone with your first LPGA win. Has your perspective on success or identity shifted at all since coming to faith?

The current world number 1 in men’s golf Scottie Scheffler said in his interview “I play golf to glorify God”. I absolutely love and agree with this statement. I was very happy to win the title, but to me it’s not the most important thing. Before the win, I said to myself: if the win is going to give me too much pride and take me farther from God, I’d rather not to win. So yes, faith has shaped my perspective on success.

The Chevron Championship 2026 Round One
HOUSTON, TEXAS – Miranda Wang plays her shot from the fourth tee during the first round of The Chevron Championship 2026 at Memorial Park Golf Course on April 23, 2026. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Q: How do you stay grounded spiritually in a lifestyle that involves constant travel and changing environments?

It’s hard to go to church on Sundays when our tournament final rounds are always on Sundays. Taking a sabbath every week is also difficult. I’m still in the process of learning to find a balance. I’d do whatever I can to build a good routine, such as reading the Bible to do prayers every day.

Faith in Everyday Life

Q: Are there people, resources, or communities that have been especially important in helping you grow in your faith so far?

I go to Wellspring Church in Pacific Grove, California, on Sundays (when not traveling for tournaments). I found a great community there. Because my family didn’t have a Christian background, I learned a lot of the Christian traditions and knowledge from the community at Wellspring Church.

Q: What has surprised you most about becoming a Christian?

The amazing literature, arts, and musical works in the Christian world. I’m really surprised by how many masterpieces in art history are inspired by Bible stories, and how modern music uses its power to praise God.

Perspective, Culture, and Message to Others

Q: Your story is unique in that you’ve come to faith despite cultural differences and without a family background in Christianity. How do you think that shapes your perspective?

My experience tells that God really reaches His great love to everyone and everywhere. Language and cultural barriers are not going to stop God from uniting His people.

Q: For others who might feel alone—whether in their careers, travel, or personal lives—what would you want them to know?

Know that you’re loved by the most high. That He protects you through the storms and is with you wherever you go.

Q: If someone reading this is curious about faith but unsure where to start, what would you say to them?

My mom recently asked me to the same question, I helped her to start reading the Bible, to learn about the history and the stories. I also took her to church and connected her with my local church friends. I think reading the Bible and connecting with people are the most important starting points.

Q: As you look ahead, what do you hope this new chapter of your life—both in golf and in faith—becomes?

I hope to remain a faithful follower of Jesus in every season—whether in success or hardship. Through the game of golf, I pray that God and the Holy Spirit will continue to guide me, shaping me with His wisdom and strengthening my spirit. And through my journey, I hope my family and others may come to know Him, discovering the same deep faith and overwhelming love that I have experienced.

Miranda Wang

The Bright Side: Sometimes the breakthroughs that change us most aren’t the ones on the scoreboard. They begin quietly—in moments of struggle, in words that bring peace, and in unexpected steps of faith that end up changing an entire journey.


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