Jenny Shin wins Women's Scottish Open by two shots, ending 10-year LPGA drought

Wire-to-wire control

Jenny Shin led the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open from start to finish at Dundonald Links on the Ayrshire coast. She held a five-shot advantage at the halfway stage and still led by that margin heading into the final round. A closing three-over-par 75 left her at nine under for the tournament, two shots clear of compatriot A-Lim Kim. The 33-year-old Seoul-born player became the third Korean winner of the event, after Mi Jung Hur in 2019 and Mi Hyang Lee in 2017. Her victory was worth $300,000 from the $2 million purse, lifting her career earnings past $8.3 million.

Final-round wobble

Shin admitted she struggled on the last day, carding three bogeys on the front nine and finding bunkers and bushes. "I feel like I've done everything wrong, just wasn't hitting it like I was the last three days and was hitting it into bunkers, bushes, and it wasn't fun," she said. Despite the nerves, she steadied herself and never looked likely to be caught. Friends doused her with water and champagne after the final putt dropped on the 18th green.

A long-awaited victory

The win ended a drought of 10 years, two months and 25 days since her only previous LPGA title at the 2016 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America. Shin became the first LPGA player since Vicki Fergon (1984 to 1996) to go a decade or more between official victories. It was her second win in 368 tour starts.

Yeah, my first win didn't really feel like a win at the time. I didn't feel like I deserved it. But this one definitely feels a lot different. This one feels like I earned it. I worked hard for it. I started working with my putting coach four years ago, and he asked me what my goal was. I said I needed to win before I retire. I'm very, very excited.

Leaderboard and notable finishes

A-Lim Kim shot a final-round 68 to finish second at seven under. Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn was a further two strokes back in third at five under. Only 10 players broke par for the week. Ireland's Leona Maguire carded a two-under 70 featuring five birdies, a bogey and a double bogey on the front nine, tying for eighth at one under. It was her third top-10 finish of the season. World number one Nelly Korda closed with a 69 to share 16th at two over, while England's Charley Hull struggled to 10 over.

What's next

The LPGA Tour now moves to the season's final major, the Women's Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes in Lancashire, starting on Thursday 30 July.