“When times are tough, I want to tell everyone to keep pushing forward. The world isn’t over yet.”
Shin Ji-eun made this statement during a press conference on July 27 after winning the ISPS Handa Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The tournament featured a total prize pool of $2 million.
Shin finished the final round with a total score of 9-under-par 279, securing a two-stroke victory over Kim A-rim, who finished at 7-under-par 281. This win marked a wire-to-wire victory, as she never relinquished the lead throughout the tournament. She earned $300,000 (approximately 440 million won) for her efforts.
This victory comes 10 years, 2 months, and 25 days (3,738 days) after her first win at the Texas Shootout in May 2016. Since 1980, Shin is only the third player on the LPGA Tour to have a gap of over 10 years between two victories, a remarkable achievement in three decades.
Shin's golf journey has been filled with ups and downs. She picked up a golf club at age 8 and moved to the United States at 9. By 13, she became the youngest champion of the US Girls' Junior in 2006, earning the title of a 'genius girl.' 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 at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore, where she lost a seemingly secured victory with a double bogey on the final hole, ultimately losing in a playoff.
Even after her first win, Shin faced over a decade of challenges. She consistently ranked in the top tier, finishing in the top 10 a total of 47 times, but struggled to achieve a second victory. Compounding her difficulties, she parted ways with her long-time main sponsor, Hanwha Q CELLS, at the end of 2024, as the Hanwha Group decided to reduce its golf team operations and did not renew contracts with LPGA players, including Shin. As a result, she has competed without a sponsor's logo on her cap since last year.
The long drought of victories led to burnout, which was ultimately alleviated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspension of the tour forced her to step back from golf, providing a pivotal moment for self-reflection.
“I did drunken live broadcasts on Instagram and spent time doing nothing, reflecting on who I am. I lived like an unemployed person for six months and experienced what life without golf was like. Looking back, it was a time I have no regrets about,” she said. “COVID-19 completely changed my life. I rediscovered my passion for golf and set a goal to win again.”
Despite losing her way during that time, her continuous efforts to improve her game finally 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 didn’t feel deserving and thought it was a fluke. But this time, it feels completely different. I feel like I earned it through my hard work. This victory is truly the result of my efforts.”
With Shin's win, the total number of victories by Korean players on the LPGA Tour this season has increased to six. This follows victories by Im Yeong-hyang at the Blue Bay LPGA in March, Kim Hyo-joo at the Founders Cup and the Ford Championship, and Yoo Hae-ran at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship, each achieving two wins.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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