Shin aiming for years 1st win at 2nd major

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Shin aiming for years 1st win at 2nd major

Posted : 2011-06-23 17:00

Updated : 2011-06-23 17:00

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 on June 9 in Springfield, Ill. / AFP-Yonhap

By Yoon Chul

The 10-month-long LPGA season is almost at the half-way stage and the second major of the season, the Wegmans LPGA Championship, began early Firday morning (KST).

Korean golfers have failed to lift a single trophy in the current season, the longest win-drought in 10 years, but former world No. 1 Shin Ji-yai was positive in an interview ahead of the game.

“I have big confidence on this golf course,” Shin told the LPGA website.

The current world No. 4 won at the same course, Locust Hill Country Club, in 2009. At that time it was just the Wegmans LPGA, but it became one of the majors last year and Shin did well even though she had her appendix removed just before the 2010 event.

“Well, this is my third time on this course and also my third time playing the LPGA Championship. In the LPGA championship over the last two years I finished third. I played pretty good in this tournament, and I won two years ago at this golf course,” Shin said.

“Actually, last year I had a special experience because after my Sunday surgery, I played this tournament with abdominal in pain. But I also play good. This week I feel my physical condition is perfect. So I’m really ready to go.”

The 23-year-old has appeared in eight LPGA tournaments this year finishing in the top 10 three times — twice in the last three weeks including a second place at the ShopRite Classic on June 5.

“I think my swing is getting better.And also my putting is getting better too. I know pretty well. I know about this golf course, with the greens and course measurements, too. I’m still thinking I carry a good feeling into this week,” said Shin.

The leading Korean golfer also commented on the course, saying that as the rough is shorter than last year the course will be good for long hitters.

She also said that as the greens are soft most players, including her, will attack the pin at every opportunity.

“So I think, this year also we get a chance for a good score,” Shin said.

Shin is not a distance player. Her driving average is 250.2 yards, which puts her 79th on the tour. Her weapon is accuracy, ranked seventh in hitting fairways with .842 and fourth for greens at .753.

The strongest opposition will likely come from current world No. 1 Tseng Yani, winner of the 2008 LPGA Championship.

“It’s a tree lined golf course, and you just need to hit it straight, straight fairways. It’s not big wide fairways,” Tseng said.

“It’s tough. I mean strategy is very important for me this week. I just want to focus on hitting on the fairway because this rough is really tough.The green was very soft. So maybe hit, not all the time short irons or long irons, until you get the ball to not spin too much. Just focus on my strategy this week.”

Defending champion Cristie Kerr will hope for a repeat last year’s tournament. Kerr beat runner-up Kim Song-hee to the title by a record 12 strokes.

Kerr is in good shape finishing second in her last three consecutive LPGA Tour events.

“I switched irons about a month ago at the Sybase. My misses have been a lot better. Golf is a game of misses, and if you can get it on the green instead of missing the green, or missing it in the right spot, it’s a whole different game. I’ve been putting well and just got to get those putts on Sunday to drop for me a little bit, so hopefully that will be a little bit,” Kerr said.

Meanwhile Tseng is aiming to become the youngest golfer to win a fourth major.

The record is held by Pak Se-ri, the lone Korean LPGA Hall of Famer, — in 2002 at the age of 24, while Tseng is currently 22.

yc@koreatimes.co.kr