Runner-up at Japan Season Opener, Becomes All-Time Leading Money Winner
Thorough Self-Management and Exceptional Competitive Spirit
A Golfer Who Studies the Game and Maintains Balance Between Training and Rest
"I Will Add Two More Wins to Earn Lifetime Exemption"
"The next tournament is highly anticipated." This was the comment made by Shin Ji-ae, ranked 23rd in the world, after becoming the all-time leading money winner on the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour. On the 9th, she tied for 2nd place at the JLPGA Tour season opener, the Daikin Orchid Ladies Golf Tournament (total prize money 120 million yen), surpassing Yuri Fudo (Japan, 1,372,620,000 yen) to claim the top spot on the JLPGA Tour all-time money list with 1,380,743,405 yen.
Shin Ji-ae was born in April 1988. This is generally considered a period when skills decline in every aspect. Most of her peers have retired, but she has been competing on the field for 20 years. As she ages, she continues to deliver consistent results comparable to her prime. She also claimed the top spot at the ISPS Australia Open on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour last December.
Shin Ji-ae has achieved 11 wins on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, 6 wins on the Ladies European Tour (LET), 30 wins on the JLPGA Tour, 21 wins on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, 5 wins on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour, and 1 win on the Ladies Asian Tour. Adding these up totals 74 wins, but due to co-sanctioned tournaments, her official total professional wins stand at 65.
What is the secret behind Shin Ji-ae’s unwavering skill? First, it is her thorough self-management. She meticulously analyzes her body. She avoids flour, eggs, and dairy products starting two days before a tournament. She is a mentally strong player. After her mother passed away in a traffic accident when she was fifteen, she pursued golf with the condolence money. Her determination when stepping onto the field is exceptional. She has a natural competitive spirit. She said, "I hate losing. The sense of accomplishment when I achieve my goals is tremendous."
Shin Ji-ae is a golfer who studies her game. She applies lead tape to her putter and changes the weights to find the optimal balance. She balances work and rest. She strives to maintain balance between her body and mind. When she has free time, she recharges her energy by visiting concert halls and exhibitions. She stated, "It is important to clearly distinguish between exercise and rest. You shouldn’t just exert yourself. It’s also important to relax (through rest)."
Shin Ji-ae is a player with a clear sense of purpose. She is still filled with the desire to be the best. Her goal for this year is to surpass 30 wins to earn a lifetime exemption on the JLPGA Tour. Although she has already won 30 times on the JLPGA Tour, two wins before becoming a member are not officially counted, so she is two wins short of the 30-win threshold for the lifetime exemption. She said, "I have improved many aspects through pre-season training," and added, "I want to add wins as soon as possible."
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