Nov. 4, 2009 (The Korea Times) -- By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
South Korean golfer Shin Ji-yai set out this year to become the LPGA's top rookie after bursting on to the scene late in 2008.
And in 2009, Shin has shined, surpassing even her own expectations. So it came as little surprise to anyone when Shin was announced the winner of the 2009 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award Tuesday (KST).
"In the beginning of this year, my goal was to win the Rookie of the Year and now I did that," Shin told the LPGA Web site. "I'm very happy.
Prior to the season, Shin was mentioned as one of a few potential rookie of the year candidates along with Michelle Wie of the United States. Shin, however, had already won three LPGA events, including the Women's British Open, as a non-member in 2008.
Wie had been competing with men and got her exemption card after passing qualifying school. But in the end, the race for the rookie of the year prize was not a close one.
Shin ran away with it, compiling 1,406 points in the rookie standings with wins at the HSBC (NYSE:HBC) Women's Champions, the Wegmans LPGA and the P&G (NYSE:PG) Beauty NW Arkansas Championship. She nearly doubled Wie's total of 764 points.
"We are so proud of all that Ji-yai has accomplished around the world," said Marty Evans, Acting LPGA Commissioner. "She is a fantastic global ambassador for the LPGA and golf in general. Our congratulations go out to her on a fantastic rookie season."
But the rookie award may be just the first of several prizes Shin receives this year.
"Now I have chance for the Rolex Player of the Year too, so I'm really excited about it. I have enjoyed my rookie year on the LPGA Tour very much," Shin said.
In the race for the top golfer award, Shin currently leads with 141 points. World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, the three-time defending champion, is second with 131 and Cristie Kerr is third at 118.
Shin could become the first golfer to win both the rookie and player of the year awards in the same season since Nancy Lopez did it in 1978.
How good has 2009 been for Shin? She tops the money list with $1.6 million and her three wins tie her with Ochoa for most on the tour. Shin is also ranked fourth in scoring average at 70.38, behind leader Kerr with 70.31.
With three competitions left, Shin will be looking to add another victory to cap what has been an impressive freshman performance.
Shin finished sixth at the Hana Bank-Kolon Championship last week with a 3-under 213 and is set to defend her title at the Mizuno Classic this week. Last year, Shin was sharp on the greens and overwhelmed the field, beating second-place Mayu Hattori of Japan by six strokes. It was with that victory that Shin became the first non-member to win three times on the LPGA.
The tournament tees off Friday at the Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Shima-shi, Japan.
A total of 43 LPGA members and 35 Japanese LPGA players will be competing, with Shin, Ochoa and Ai Miyazato among the strongest contenders.
After winning her second tournament of the year last week at the Hana Bank-Kolon, Choi Na-yeon will be looking to join Shin and Ochoa at the top of the wins table. The 22-year-old won by one stroke over Yani Tseng of Taiwan and Maria Hjorth of Sweden on Korean soil in Incheon.
