Jiyai Shin was a force to be reckoned with when she joined the LPGA Tour in 2009. The 36-year-old pro already dominated the Korean greens when she made her entry into the LPGA Tour. And on the American circuit, she further proved to be a better player. In the six years from 2009 to 2013, Shin won the LPGA Tour 11 times, and then, just in an instant, she decided to give up her LPGA Tour card in 2014.

Shin was getting all the success any player would hope for, but what pushed her to withdraw from the LPGA? After taking the lead at the AIG Women’s Open, the title she won in 2008 and 2012, Shin revealed the exact reason behind it. Talking about her decision from a decade ago, the Korean pro recounted ” my rookie year was 2009, and then I have — like I have many goals for the ten years’ goal, I have a plan. But after three, four years, I finish everything.”

“So I couldn’t find any next step,” added the 36-year-old at the press conference at Dundonald Links. With the pressure of playing well, Shin wanted to find her purpose, so she took the massive decision. She explained, “I want to play good, but it doesn’t like — like I couldn’t get any motivate by myself. That’s why, okay, I need to change. I need a change.” Hence, she moved to the LPGA Japan Tour and raked in 21 titles since then, the latest at the Earth Mondahmin Cup.

Although she had decided to move closer to her family and shun the LPGA Tour, Shin was worried that she would lose her fans. However, after it, she gained new supporters but they were just a few oceans away. And that’s why the 2-time major champion declared, “I had a great decision,” as she aims for her third major title at Dundonald Links. With a new goal in mind, Shin revealed that there was one more thing she now wanted to be after being a pro for more than two decades.

Jiyai Shin wants to add another title to her name

Well, the title that Jiyai Shin now wants will not come after winning any event because it is not related to that. On the precipice of winning her third major, the 36-year-old revealed that she wanted to help the younger generation. Shin recalled her rookie days and explained that at the time there were many players older than her and they used to care about her and show her the correct way.

She expressed that she had good role models but there were not many she could rely on. But after two decades, the LPGA Tour has many guiding lights for young golfers and Shin wanted to be one of them. She said, “I want to be a good role model for the young players.” Although she accepted that many might not be aware of her 64 worldwide titles, she was not focused on that.

Currently, her game, and becoming an inspiring figure in the golf world matter more than anything else. With just 18 days to go before the AIG Women’s Open concludes, will Jiyai Shin successfully win another major? It remains to be seen.