World No.18 Shin Ji-ae: "I Can Compete in the Olympics"

Interview for Domestic KLPGA Tour Opening Event
Energy Drink as Motivation for Paris Olympics
"I Will Compete to Win at US Major Tournaments"

Veteran Shin Ji-ae is experiencing the busiest period since her professional debut.

Shin Ji-ae is making an iron shot at the Doosan Construction We’ve Championship, the opening domestic tournament.
[Photo by KLPGA]

This year, she has traveled to Australia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan, and the United States. She is diligently accumulating world ranking points to qualify for the Paris Olympics this August. On the 4th, she appeared at the Doosan Construction Weave Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), the domestic opening event of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, held at Teddy Valley Golf & Resort (par 72, 6,685 yards) in Seogwipo, Jeju Island. This marks her first KLPGA Tour tournament appearance in 3 years and 8 months since the Daeyu Winia MBN Ladies Open in August 2020.

Shin Ji-ae clearly expressed her determination to participate in the Paris Olympics. "The goal of competing in the Olympics is like an energy drink for me. It gives me strength," she said. "Having played on the tour for a long time, I could have fallen into a rut, but the goal of the Olympics seems to be what makes me stand up again."

To qualify for the Paris Olympics, she must be ranked within the top 15 in the world rankings by June. Currently, she is ranked 18th. Among Korean players, she is fourth after Ko Jin-young (6th), Kim Hyo-joo (9th), and Yang Hee-young (15th). Shin Ji-ae was full of confidence about her Olympic participation. "If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't have started. I am competing in various tournaments with the belief that it is possible."

Ko Jin-young and Kim Hyo-joo are in a 'safe zone.' She is in fierce competition with Yang Hee-young for a ticket. Of course, a maximum of four players per country ranked within the top 15 can participate. Yang Hee-young is both a competitor and a partner. Regarding Yang Hee-young, she said, "I think of her as a partner fighting alongside me. It would be great if we both go to the Olympics." She added, "We are supporting each other as we compete. I will do my best to accept any outcome."

Raising her world ranking is an urgent task for Shin Ji-ae. First, she plans to participate in the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour events, which offer many points. She is scheduled to compete in the LPGA Tour season's first major, the Chevron Championship, starting on the 19th, and the U.S. Women's Open on May 31. Shin Ji-ae explained her upcoming schedule: "Between the major tournaments, I plan to play in Japan, but I will look for opportunities to participate in LPGA Tour events."

Shin Ji-ae is a player who manages her body meticulously. She avoids flour, eggs, and dairy products starting two days before tournaments. She consistently combines weight training and core exercises. Although she is in her mid-thirties, her skills have not declined. Shin Ji-ae said, "Most of my peers have retired, but I have been on the field for 19 years. I want to keep playing golf as long as I can endure."

Shin Ji-ae is a 'living legend' with a total of 64 professional wins in Korea, the United States, and Japan. She has demonstrated overwhelming skills, never missing a cut in the KLPGA to date. In this tournament, she showed stable performance, advancing to the final round for the 59th consecutive event. She also encouraged her junior, Yoon Yi-na, who returned to the KLPGA Tour after 1 year and 9 months since her shoulder surgery. She conveyed her warm support as a senior, saying, "I hope she overcomes it well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.