Shin Ji-yai ties for 2nd at final LPGA major of season
Shin Ji-yai hits a tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the LPGA State Farm Classic at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill., June 9. AFP-Yonhap
Korean veteran Shin Ji-yai has fallen short of capturing her third career LPGA major in Scotland after losing her third-round lead on a historic course known as the "Home of Golf."
Shin shot a two-over 74 in the final round of the AIG Women's Open at the Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, on Sunday (local time) for a four-round total of five-under 283. After making four bogeys and two bogeys on the last day, Shin finished in a four-way tie for second place, two shots behind the champion, Lydia Ko of New Zealand.
Shin began the final round holding a one-shot lead over the defending champion from the United States, Lilia Vu.
Ko, a Korean-born Kiwi, claimed her third career major title and her first since April 2016. By ending the major drought, Ko capped a memorable August during which she also won the Olympic gold in Paris and secured an induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Shin was going for her first major in 12 years. Both of her two previous major titles had come at the Women's Open — in 2008 and 2012.
With Shin and Vu in the final group, world No. 1 Nelly Korda, at five-under through 54 holes, played in the pairing right in front of them. Ko, who began the final round at four-under, was in a group in front of Korda.
Shin bogeyed the third hole to drop into a tie for first with Vu at six-under. Korda then pulled into a tie with those two players with a birdie on the fifth hole.
Korda bogeyed the sixth hole after her par putt lipped out before bouncing back with a birdie on the seventh hole to once again create a three-way tie with Shin and Vu.
Shin reclaimed her lead at seven-under with a birdie on the seventh hole, her first birdie of the final round.
And Shin didn't have another birdie the rest of the day.
Korda joined Shin at the top with a birdie on the ninth, while Ko kept pace with the leaders, as she reached six-under with a birdie on the 10th.
Korda moved out in front after a birdie on the 10th, and Shin's bogey on the 11th dropped her two back of Korda.
Vu appeared to be out of contention after making nine straight pars and then two straight bogeys. But a birdie on the 12th put Vu in the mix.
Things took a dramatic turn on the par-5 14th hole.
Ko birdied that hole to get to seven-under. Moments later, Korda walked off with a double bogey.
Korda missed the green long with her third shot, and her chip shot rolled back toward her. She missed the bogey putt coming back to now trail Ko by a stroke.
Nelly Korda of the United States plays her second shot on the 13th hole during the final round of the Women's British Open golf championship in St. Andrews, Scotland, Aug. 25. AP-Yonhap
Shin couldn't take advantage of that opening. After finding a pot bunker off the tee, Shin elected to putt from well off the green and managed to save par.
Vu birdied that hole to tie Ko for the lead at six-under, with Ko having bogeyed the 15th two groups ahead.
Shin then played her way out of the mix. On the 15th, she missed the pin well left and three-putted for her third bogey of the round. After salvaging a par on the 16th, Shin made another bogey on the 17th.
At that point, Ko had already grabbed the clubhouse lead at seven-under, thanks to her birdie on the 72nd hole.
With Korda also out of the picture down the stretch, Vu was the only one with a chance to catch Ko. But she missed a long birdie attempt on the final hole that would have set up a playoff with Ko.
After Shin sank her birdie putt, Vu shockingly missed the par attempt from a couple of feet to fall into a four-way tie with Shin, Korda and Yin Ruoning of China.
Shin collected 11 LPGA wins between 2008 and 2013, while capturing the money title and the Rookie of the Year award in 2009. The former world No. 1 gave up her LPGA membership before the 2014 season to play in Japan and stay closer to her family in Korea.
Shin has occasionally played at LPGA majors in recent years. In 2023, Shin tied for second at the U.S. Women's Open and ranked alone in third at the AIG Women's Open.
LPGA rookie Im Jin-hee was the next best Korean, as she tied for 10th at one-under 287. (Yonhap)