Immediate Rise to the Top Without a Single Top-10 Finish Last Year
Inspired by National Teammates Yoo Hae Ran and Park Hyun Kyung's Victories
Mentor Shin Jiyai Sets the Example; Aiming for a Long Career Until Age 40
Dreaming of an Internati
A star is born. This is the story of Shin Dain, now in her second year on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. On August 31, at the 14th KG Ladies Open held at Sunny Point Country Club in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, she claimed her first career victory. The rookie, who had not even secured a single top-10 finish since her debut last year, pulled off a surprise win. In an interview with Asia Economy on September 4, Shin Dain said, "These days, many people recognize me. Someone even told me they became a fan after watching a legendary video," adding with a smile, "I think I will never forget the moment I won."
It was like a scene from a drama. On the final day, she made a birdie on the last 18th hole (par 5) to join the playoff. In the first playoff, she was blessed with miraculous luck. Her tee shot, which veered right, landed on the cart path, bounced, and rolled all the way to the 407.9-meter mark. She ultimately made a birdie to survive, and then secured the winning birdie in the second playoff. She recalled, "Right after the tee shot, I thought I was in trouble, but thankfully the ball was still in play. Thanks to that, I was able to seize the opportunity to win."
Shin Dain was called a "golf prodigy." She started playing golf in third grade at Seongju Elementary School in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. She said, "I first picked up a golf club in an after-school class, and my teacher suggested I become a player because I seemed so talented. After just three rounds, I shot a 90. In my first local tournament, I finished sixth, which was a great result."
While attending Changwon Daesan Middle School in 2016, she won the Korea Women's Amateur Championship and represented the national team. The peers she played alongside as national team members have impressive resumes. She shared the field with Yoo Hae Ran (four wins on the KLPGA Tour, three wins on the LPGA Tour), who currently competes on the LPGA Tour, and Park Hyun Kyung (eight KLPGA Tour wins), who was a co-leader in wins on the KLPGA Tour last season. Shin Dain said, "It was hard watching Yoo Hae Ran and Park Hyun Kyung succeed on TV. I felt frustrated comparing myself to them, especially since I kept failing at the qualifying tournaments." She continued, "But seeing players my age succeed also motivated me and gave me the strength to continue my career."
Shin Dain is holding the trophy and smiling brightly after winning the KG Ladies Open. Photo by KLPGA
Born in 2001, Shin Dain joined the tour in July 2020 and spent a long time on the second and third-tier tours. She struggled to turn things around, mainly due to issues with her driver. In 2023, she finished third in the qualifying tournament and joined the regular tour the following year. "During my second year of high school, I struggled because my driver wasn't working well. I focused too much on swing correction during training, which was a problem. It was hard to regain my feel for the game," she explained.
The regular tour stage was also challenging. Last year, she entered 26 tournaments and missed the cut 17 times. Since turning pro, she played in 47 KLPGA Tour events but failed to finish in the top 10, let alone win. Her best result was a tie for 14th at the 47th Chris F&C KLPGA Championship in May this year and at the High1 Resort Women's Open in July. She diagnosed, "After turning pro, I lost a lot of confidence, and as a result, I couldn't achieve good results."
Shin Dain is known for her filial piety. After her first victory, she received a prize of 180 million won, an Actyon HEV vehicle worth about 37 million won, and a one-year free round pass at Sunny Point Country Club. When asked who she was most grateful to after her win, she named her father, who comes to every tournament to cheer her on. Laughing, she said, "I don't have a driver's license. My father, who doesn't have a car, comes to every tournament by company bus or rental car. Coincidentally, the prize for this tournament was a car. I think it will be a great gift for my father," she smiled.
When asked about her strengths, she replied, "Rather than excelling in one skill, I think I perform above average across the board." She added, "I'm confident in hitting my driver onto the fairway, and my irons and putting aren't bad either. Being able to handle every club well is both my strength and my weakness." She continued, "There are still many areas where I need to improve, especially my putting, which I need to practice more."
Dain Shin expressed her ambition, saying, "I will further strengthen my putting to become the best in the country." Photo by WPS
Her role model is Shin Jiyai, born in 1988, a "living legend" with 66 career wins across Korea, Japan, the United States, and Europe. Even this year, she claimed victory at the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup, a major on the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour, in May. Shin Dain said, "Shin Jiyai is my role model. She is always consistent and has her own unique style. I want to have a long career like Shin Jiyai and play until I'm 40."
Shin Dain quickly put aside the joy of her first win and picked up her clubs again. She is working on improving her weaknesses at the practice range. "My goal this year was to finish inside the top 80 on the money list (to retain my tour card), and I achieved that by winning," she said. "Rather than focusing on how many more wins I can get, I want to play in a way that satisfies me." She added, "Someday, I want to challenge myself overseas. I think Japan suits me better than the United States. Of course, playing good golf is important, but I also want to be remembered as a player with good character and a bright personality."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
