Shin Ji-eun celebrated her return to the top of the LPGA Tour on July 27, winning the ISPS Handa Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland. After a 10-year, 2-month hiatus from victory, she finished the tournament with a total score of 9-under-par 279, defeating Kim A-rim by two strokes.
Shin's win was a wire-to-wire victory, as she never relinquished the lead throughout the four rounds. The victory comes with a prize of $300,000.
This triumph marks Shin's first win since her debut victory at the Texas Shootout in May 2016, ending a drought of 3,738 days. She becomes only the third player in LPGA history to have a gap of over 10 years between wins since 1980, a remarkable achievement.
Shin's journey in golf has been filled with challenges. She picked up a golf club at age 8 and moved to the United States at 9. By 13, she became the youngest winner of the US Girls' Junior Championship, earning the title of a 'golf prodigy.' However, after debuting on the LPGA Tour in 2011, it took her 135 tournaments to secure her first win. A particularly painful moment came in 2012 when she lost a potential victory at the HSBC Women's Champions due to a double bogey on the final hole, ultimately losing in a playoff.
Following her first win, Shin faced over a decade of struggles. Despite consistently finishing in the top 10—47 times—she could not secure a second victory. Compounding her challenges, she parted ways with her main sponsor, Hanwha Q CELLS, at the end of 2024, as the company decided to reduce its golf team operations. As a result, Shin, now in her mid-30s, has competed without a sponsor's logo on her cap since last year.
The COVID-19 pandemic provided a turning point for Shin, as the tour's suspension forced her to step back from the game. She reflected on this time, saying, "I did a drunken live broadcast on Instagram and spent time doing nothing, which helped me rediscover who I am. Living without golf for six months turned out to be a time I do not regret. COVID-19 completely changed my life. I found the spark for the game I love and set a goal to win again."
Despite losing her way during this period, her dedication to improving her game ultimately paid off with this sweet victory. After the tournament, overwhelmed with emotion and showered with champagne by her peers, Shin expressed, "I am proud of myself for enduring until the end and I am very happy. When I won my first title, I felt undeserving, as if it was a fluke. But this time, it feels completely different. I feel like I earned it through hard work. This victory is truly the result of my efforts."
With this win, Shin has contributed to a total of six victories for South Korean players on the LPGA Tour this season. The winning streak began in March with Lee Mi-hyang at the Blue Bay LPGA, followed by Kim Hyo-joo (Founders Cup, Ford Championship) and Yoo Hae-ran (KPMG Women's PGA Championship, Evian Championship), each securing two wins before Shin's latest triumph.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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