Jiyai Shin

Started playing golf at the age of 11. She credits her father, Jeseop Shin, and her coach, Hyunjee Chun (an LPGA T&CP Class A member), as the individuals most influencing her career. Her amateur career included victories at the 2005 KLPGA SK Invitational, the Korea Women's Amateur Championship, the Songam Amateur Championship, the Korea Junior Championship, and the Korea Junior Championship as a member of the Korean National Team.
In 2006, competed on the Korea LPGA Tour, earning Rookie and Player of the Year awards on the strength of four victories. She was the first player in KLPGA history to record a sub-70 scoring average (69.72) and led the money list.
In 2007, as a non-member, recorded three top-six finishes on the LPGA in eight starts, including a tie for third at the Evian Masters. Recorded 16 top-five finishes in 18 starts on the KLPGA, including nine victories. After 33 career KLPGA events, broke the KLPGA career money record set by Il Mi Chung (99 events), also won the Thailand Ladies Open on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour.
In 2008, became the first non-LPGA member to win three events: the Ricoh Women's British Open, Mizuno Classic and season-ending ADT Championship. Carded three additional top-10 finishes in 10 official events and became the first player in KLPGA history to complete the season Grand Slam, earning a 10-year exemption on the KLPGA. Recorded seven KLPGA victories in 15 starts and seven additional top-eight finishes, won the PRGA Ladies Cup on the LPGA of Japan.
In 2009, earned Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honors, mathematically eliminating the rest of the 2009 LPGA rookie class with three events remaining on the schedule. Became the season's first Rolex First-Time Winner at the HSBC Women's Champions, which was also her first official victory as an LPGA member. Also won the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff, and the Wegmans LPGA. Won the Masters GC Ladies on the Japan LPGA Tour.
2010 Notes: Took over as Rolex Rankings No. 1 on May 3rd following the retirement of Lorena Ochoa. Spent 16 weeks of the season at No. 1 and became just the third player (Annika Sorenstam, Ochoa) to end a season as Rolex Rankings No. 1. Recorded her seventh- and eighth-career LPGA victories at the Evian Masters and the Mizuno Classic. Also tied for second at the CN Canadian Women's Open, finished third at the Sybase Match Play Championship,T-3rdd at the Kia Classic, the HSBC Women's Champions, LPGA Championship and U.S. Women's Open. T-4th at the LPGA Hana Bank Championship, tied for fifth place at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the P&G NW Arkansas Championship. Won the KLPGA Championship, her 21st victory on the KLPGA, and qualified for the KLPGA Hall of Fame. Also won the CyberAgent Ladies on the JLPGA.
2011 Notes: Runner-up at the Kia Classic and tied for second at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Also tied for eighth at the LPGA State Farm Classic.
2012 Notes: Played 18 LPGA events, 18 cuts made, $1,234,597 (7). Had eight top-10 finishes and five top-5 finishes, including two wins (Kingsmill Championship & RICOH Women's British Open). Crossed the $5 million mark in career earnings with her win at the Kingsmill Championship, where she defeated Paula Creamer in a nine-hole, two-day playoff. Won her second-career major championship at the RICOH Women's British Open with the tournament's largest margin of victory (nine strokes) and crossed the $1 million mark in season earnings. She faced a nagging wrist injury that required surgery in June and a two-month layoff in which she didn't come back until the end of July.
2013 Notes: Played in 20 LPGA events with 19 cuts made. Had 5 top-10 finishes and 2 top-five finishes including winning the Handa Women's Australian Open. Finished 22nd on the money list with $602,875.
2014 Notes: She placed fourth at the HSBC Women's Championship and decided to give up her LPGA membership after finishing eighth in the Kraft Nabisco. She wanted to focus more on playing on the Japan LPGA Tour to be closer to her home and family in South Korea.
2015 Notes: Finished 3rd on the Japan LPGA money list, with 18 top 10s, including four wins, two runner-ups, and a third. She made over 100 million yen ($890,400).
2016 Notes: Won the LET RACV Ladies Masters in Australia. On the Japan LPGA, she finished second on the money list behind Bo Mee Lee, with 147 million yen ($1,308,889) earned. She was also second in scoring average at 70.47. She managed three wins, five other runner-up finishes, and 17 total top tens. She made three starts on the LPGA in 2016, none in the U.S. (T-28th Handa Australian Open, T-60th Ricoh Women's British Open & T-14th Toto Japan Classic)
2017 Notes: She had 4 straight top-three finishes on the Japan LPGA in March and April. Finished T-11th at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, missed the cut at the U.S. Women's Open, and T-15th at the Toto Japan Classic. She played in 24 Japan LPGA events and won twice, the Nitori Ladies Golf Tournament and the Daio Paper Elleair Ladies Open.
2018 Notes: She won four times on the Japan Golf Tour and the Canberra Classic on the LET, which was her 50th professional win. She also won the Salonpas Cup, the Golf5 Ladies, the Japan LPGA Championship, and the Japan LPGA Tour Championship. She had 17 top-10 finishes, including three other runner-up finishes. She led the Japan LPGA's Mercedes rankings and was second on the money list.
2019 Notes: Played in 27 JLPGA events, making 24 cuts with 18 top-ten finishes. Was 3rd on the money list with earnings of yen142,277,195 ($997,456). She won Studio Alice Ladies Open, Fujisankei Ladies Classic, and Earth Mondahmin Cup three times.
2020/21 Notes: Played in 33 JLPGA events, making 31 cuts with 10 top-ten finishes. Was 6th on the money list with earnings of yen130,969,269 (USA$997,456). She won four times: the 2020 Fujitsu Ladies Golf Tournament, the Toto Japan Classic, the 2021 Nichirei Ladies, and the 2021 Daito Kentaku Ladies.
2022 Notes: Played in 24 JLPGA events, making 22 cuts with 9 top-ten finishes. Was 6th on the money list with earnings of yen130,969,269 (USA$997,456). Her best finish was 2nd in Japan Women's Open Golf Championship.
2023 Notes: Played in 22 JLPGA events, making 18 cuts with 15 top-ten finishes. Was 6th on the money list with earnings of yen163,568,277 (USA$1,113,854). Won the Daikin Orchid Ladies and the Earth Mondahmin Cup. She also had three runner-up finishes in Japan. She also won the Vic Women's Open in Australia in February. She shot 71 in windy conditions in the final round to win by five shots. She was T-2nd in the U.S. Women's Open, finishing two back of the winner, Allisen Corpuz. She was 3rd at the AIG Women's Open, seven shots back of the winner Lilia Vu. Shot a final round 65 to finish T-4th, two shots back of the winner Mone Inami.
2024 Notes: Played in 16 JLPGA events, making 15 cuts with four top-ten finishes. Was 39th on the money list with earnings of yen32,114,661 (USA$217,396). She began the year by finishing 2nd in the Vic Open in Australia, one shot back of the winner, Ashley Lao. She was the 54-hole leader at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship on the LPGA Tour, but she shot a final round 73 to finish T-5th, two shots out of the Nelly Korda/Ryann O'Toole playoff. Was T-4th at the Salonpas Cup and 3rd at the VPoint Eneos Golf Tournament.

2025 Japan Ladies PGA Tour Results
Tournament Place Yen won To Par Score 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
TOURNAMENT RANK MONEY SCORE TOTAL R1 R2 R3 R4 4
Daikin Orchid Ladies T2 ¥8,720,000 -6 282 74 72 67 69
SMBC LADIES GOLF T10 ¥1,846,666 0 216 71 72 73
AXA LADIES GOLF Cut ¥0 +2 146 73 73
Alice Ladies Open Cut ¥0 +1 145 72 73
Panasonic Open T31 ¥568,000 -1 215 76 68 71
Salonpas Cup Win ¥24,000,000 -7 281 71 70 67 73
Sky RKB Ladies Classic T22 ¥1,092,000 -6 210 70 70 70
Ai Miyazato Suntory Ladies T9 ¥2,850,000 -8 280 73 67 71 69
Nichitret Ladies T21 ¥910,000 -2 214 69 70 75
Earth Mondahmin Cup T5 ¥12,500,000 -8 280 69 71 72 68
MinebeaMitsumi Ladies 60 ¥0
Meijiyasuda Ladies Cut ¥0 -3 141 71 70

Shin Has Won Ye 52,806,666 (USA$357,467) and Is 31st On The Jlpga Money List