Jiyai Shin has returned to play at the AIG Women’s Open after a decade! She became part of the LPGA Tour back in 2008 and played till 2013. Her decorated career on the Tour was short-lived, and not hence enough for people to remember her significant presence in the field. But make no mistake, back in the day, she was a force to be reckoned with.

In 2010 and 2011, Shin was the Women’s world No. 1. Moreover in just her 5-year span on the Tour, she won winning eleven times, including two majors (2008 and 2012 Women’s British Open). Why then the early exit?

In 2013, the LPGA star said, “My rookie year was 2009, and then I have many goals for the ten years’ goal, I have a plan. “But after three, four years, I finish everything.” The focus, drive, and skill that Shin had unfortunately come with a price that she paid for 10 years before even joining the Tour. Her mother.

Jiyai Shin lost her mother at the age of 16

Ten years before joining the LPGA, at the age of 16, Jiyai Shin lost her mother in a car accident. Her brother and sister too were in the car at the time of the devastating incident. Her siblings were so heavily injured that they had to spend a lot of time at the hospital. As a distraction, and to keep herself calm during the turbulent time, Shin turned to golf.

The golf pro took her mother’s life insurance policy money and started competing in professional golf tournaments. In 2005, with her siblings still recovering, she won her first KLPGA event in high school. She was the best amateur that year, adding the prestigious ‘Rookie of the Year’ to her list of accomplishments. A year later, in 2006, she grabbed three more wins and even earned a whopping $1 million from the sport.

Jiyai Shin was peaking in her career and had already achieved victories that not many other players could have won. And although the victories brought immense happiness, they could not satisfy her fully. Thus, in 2013, she gave up her LPGA membership and moved closer to home to be with her family.

Shin picked family over international glory

Jiyai Shin is currently one round away from grabbing a win at the AIG Women’s Open for the third time. Carding a 5-under 67 on Saturday she has a one-shot lead with 18 holes to go. However, even a win wouldn’t please her as much as spending time with her family does. After leaving the LPGA, Shin joined the JLPGA in Japan. And on Saturday, when she was asked for a reason, she claimed that it was all about some quality family time.

The golf pro pointed out that the LPGA Tour travels all across the world during its regular season and that had caused Jiyai Shin to live on the go away from her loved ones a decade ago. The JLPGA, however, is Japan-centric, and hence she was always near to her dear ones. “I need a change.’ So that’s why I moved to, close to the family, so that’s why I moved to Japan and this is my 11th year in Japan tours,” said the 36-year-old.

Although Shin was initially scared about losing her fans, she made the move in 2013, and she’s never once regretted it. Friends. Family. And an even bigger fan base thanks to her choice is now all hers. And of course, the 30 JLPGA titles are just a bonus!