Shin wins Ricoh Women's British Open

20-year-old Ji-Yai Shin became the youngest ever winner of the Women's British Open. The South Korean finished three shots clear of the field. Shin follows Yani Tseng and Inbee Park as the third Asian Major winner of 2008

Ji-Yai Shin

Ricoh Women’s British Open Sunningdale GC, Berkshire Jul 31 - Aug 3, purse $2,100,000, par 72

South Korea’s Ji-Yai Shin fired an impressive final round of 66 to win the Ricoh Women’s British Open by three strokes. Shin led an Asian clean sweep with Yani Tseng of Taiwan finishing second and Eun Hee Ji of Korea and Yuri Fudoh of Japan a further shot back in third.

Shin began the final round a shot behind Fudoh but the Korean made birdies at the first and the fifth to close the gap. When Shin made back-to-back birdies at the ninth and tenth she established a two shot lead that she never looked like relinquishing. She completed her final round bogey-free and a first Major title was hers. At just 20-years-old she is the youngest ever winner of the Women’s British Open.

“My whole life, I've been waiting for this time and my dream comes true now,” said Shin. “This morning I was nervous and last night it was very difficult to sleep because I was so nervous, but I focused and concentrated on my game and now I’ve won.”

Shin’s victory caps an incredible year for young Asian players in the Majors. 19-year-old Yani Tseng won the LPGA Championship at the start of June then another 19-year-old, Inbee Park, won the US Women’s Open at the end of the month. 26-year-old Lorena Ochoa won 2008’s other Major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship. The average age of ladies Major champions this season is just 21.

Cristie Kerr was the leading player from outside Asia. The American ended the week in sixth place. Minea Blomqvist was top European taking a share of 17th. England’s Karen Stupples who won the tournament last time it was held at Sunningdale finished in a share for 24th spot along with Annika Sorenstam.

The Swede, playing in her final Major Championship, closed with a 68 and received a great reception as she made her way up the 18th. “When I made the corner from the leaderboard, it says, ‘Annika, you'll be missed.’ I thought that was very special and I waved at the guys and they clapped and I came up 18 and everybody was cheering. You know, it just makes you feel good when you get that type of applause.”

Another Swede Anna Nordqvist won the Smyth Salver as leading amateur.

1 Ji-Yai Shin (Kor) 66 68 70 66 270 $314,464 2 Yani Tseng (Tai) 70 69 68 66 273 $196,540 T3 Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 68 70 69 67 274 $122,838 T3 Yuri Fudoh (Jap) 66 68 69 71 274 $122,838 5 Ai Miyazato (Jap) 68 69 68 70 275 $88,443 6 Cristie Kerr (USA) 71 65 70 70 276 $76,651 T7 Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 69 68 71 69 277 $65,841 T7 Momoko Ueda (Jap) 66 72 70 69 277 $65,841 T9 In Kyung Kim (Kor) 71 68 72 67 278 $47,653 T9 Hee Won Han (Kor) 71 69 71 67 278 $47,653 T9 Paula Creamer (USA) 72 69 70 67 278 $47,653 T9 Karrie Webb (Aus) 72 69 69 68 278 $47,653 T9 Natalie Gulbis (USA) 69 68 70 71 278 $47,653

Key Moment: Shin rolls in a 40-foot birdie putt across the 13th green to move three shots clear.

Note: Players in bold signifies Titleist ball usage.

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?