Former No. 1 leads in Japan, reveals plans to sing at this LPGA star's wedding
Beth Ann Nichols- Jiyai Shin is tied for the lead with Nasa Hataoka after two rounds of the Toto Japan Classic.
- Shin, a former world No. 1, has won over 60 titles worldwide across multiple tours.
- She is the only non-Japanese player currently in the top seven on the leaderboard.
- Shin has previously won the Toto Japan Classic in 2008, 2010, and a non-LPGA co-sanctioned version in 2020.
Jiyai Shin, one of the winningest players in golf, is back on top at the Toto Japan Classic. The 37-year-old two-time major winner and former No. 1, nicknamed "The Final Round Queen," is knotted at 11-under 133 with Nasa Hataoka after two rounds at Seta Golf Course.
Shin brought back her old Scotty Cameron putter this week and said she wants to keep her "old friend" close. She has missed only four greens in the first 36 holes.
Shin is the only player who isn't Japanese in the top seven on the leaderboard. Five players are within three shots.
"Actually, I like the tight race," said Shin, "... I really like it because I love playing with the pressure."
After Thursday's round, Shin was asked when her next music album might come out. The prolific winner – more than 60 titles worldwide – also found time to put out several CDs more than a decade ago.
"I'm quite busy with my golf and training, but, you know, So Yeon Ryu is getting married next month, and then, I'm going to sing for her," said Shin.
"Yeah, I need to practice that."
Though she plays full-time in Japan these days, Shin made a run at several LPGA majors of late, posting three top-three finishes at the big events in 2023 and 2024. She missed the cut in her two appearances this year at the U.S. Women's Open and British Open.
A two-time winner of the Toto in 2008 and 2010, Shin is making her 15th appearance at the Toto. (She also won the Toto in 2020, but it was not co-sanctioned with the LPGA due to the pandemic.)
Shin began her career in her native South Korea, where she won 21 times and became the first player in KLPGA history to complete the grand slam in the same season.
After the KLPGA, Shin played on the LPGA, where in 2008 she became the first non-member to win three times in one season. Shin played five full seasons on the LPGA before deciding that she wanted to live and compete closer to home.
She then took up membership on the JLPGA, where she has 31 wins and leads the JLPGA career money list.
In 2015, Shin was inducted into the KLPGA Hall of Fame.
Miyu Yamashita, last week's winner in Malaysia, trails by one. The petite Yamashita has a chance to become only the third player to ever win LPGA Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the same season, joining Sung Hyun Park (2017) and Nancy Lopez (1978). Ayako Okamoto (1987) is the only other Japanese player to win LPGA Player of the Year honors.