When you’re in one of the most crucial stages of trying to finish the year within the top 100 and secure a full card for the next season, the last thing you need is to be left without a caddie. But that’s exactly the position Muni He found herself in a month ago. But instead of scrambling for a last-minute local or relying on a stranger, 26-year-old dialed up someone unexpected— that didn’t just turn heads but might even turn her season around.

It all started at last month’s Portland Classic, when Muni’s usual caddie situation fell apart. But instead of panicking, she picked up the phone and rang a familiar name — Norman Xiong, PGA Tour pro, former collegiate superstar, and, for now, a surprise addition to the LPGA caddie ranks. “We grew up playing junior golf together, and (Norman is) an amazing golfer himself and still playing on the PGA Tour,” Muni said of Norman. “He’s a very unique guy, I would say. He decided that he wanted to see competition golf from a different perspective. When I was in need of a caddie in Portland, he offered to come out and help me out. I think he really enjoys it,” she added.

But Norman Xiong wasn’t just any casual name. The person Muni called is a PGA Tour pro and former collegiate star who has been successful right from his amateur days. He represented America in the 2017 Walker Cup, and in 2018, he won the Jack Nicklaus Award and the Haskins Award for Division I men’s golfer of the year and the most outstanding collegiate golfer, respectively.

While his professional path hasn’t exactly been linear, he currently plays on the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour and has taken part in events like the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open (tied 40th) and the Rocket Classic (missed cut). With his wealth of competitive experience across several tours, the 26-year-old has brought serious insight and stability to Muni He’s game. And the success of their partnership is evident through the results.

At this week’s 2025 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, with Xiong still on her bag, Muni He opened her week with a sizzling 6-under 65, her lowest round in nearly two years since round 1 of the 2023 ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. Muni’s stats were incredibly impressive with 18 greens in regulation, 13 fairways hit, and not a hint of nerves on the greens. She came out flying with birdies on her first three holes, stumbled briefly with a bogey at the 4th, but bounced right back with another birdie at 5. Two more birdies and she capped off a round that has her tied for 9th heading into the weekend—well within striking distance.

“I think it was a really hot start,” Muni He expressed. “I’ve had my best finish on Tour here, so I feel really comfortable. And it’s the last of a four-week stretch for me, so I’m just trying to cruise,” she added. Cruise might be a casual way to put it, as she’s grinding hard to climb out of a tricky position. She arrived in Arkansas ranked 129th in the Race to the CME Globe, 29 spots shy of the top-100 threshold needed to retain her full LPGA status for 2026. With just a handful of events left, the pressure is very real.

And yet, with a new perspective, thanks in large part to her unlikely new caddie, Muni seems to be thriving under it. The pair even made an equipment overhaul together, leading into this week.

Norman Xiong has been more than just a caddie to Muni He

Norman Xiong’s role over the last few weeks has gone far beyond just being on Muni He’s bag. Because of their long-standing friendship and shared history during junior golf, Muni has felt comfortable leaning on him not just as a caddie but as a trusted advisor. With the pressure mounting late in the season, Norman has quietly stepped into a more hands-on role, offering input on everything. “The past few weeks, he’s been doing more work than just being a caddie with me,” Muni He confessed. “He’s been not really coaching, but kind of telling me how he feels about my equipment and certain areas in my game where I can improve, which has been really helpful.”

That help led to a major bag shake-up ahead of this week’s event, one that would make even the most seasoned pros hesitate during such a crucial stage. After missing yet another cut at the Kroger Queen City Championship last week, her sixth for the season, the two decided to overhaul Muni’s entire club setup. They ditched her graphite shafts for steel, added 20 to 25 grams to every iron, and completely changed her usual feel. “I’ve been struggling with my approach iron shots for a while, and I have always had the idea that I liked very, very light and flexible shafts,” Muni admitted.

The move was risky, especially with few chances left to earn Race to the CME Globe points, but after her opening 65, it might just be the gamble that saves her season. And according to He, the change seems to be paying off— “So really good to see it paying off, and I feel like it’s changed for the better.”