Jenny Shin ends 10-year title drought with dramatic win at Scottish Open
Despite dropping shots, Jenny Shin finished at 9-under 279 to claim the title — her first LPGA victory in 3,738 days, or nearly 10 years and three months.
Korean golfer Jenny Shin walks onto the tournament ground on the second day of the 2026 ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland, on July 24.AP/YONHAP
Korean golfer Jenny Shin ended the third-longest title drought in LPGA Tour history on Sunday, when she capped a wire-to-wire victory at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open more than 10 years after her only previous win on tour.
The 33-year-old closed out the tournament at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland, by carding two birdies and five bogeys for a 3-over-par 75 in the final round. Despite dropping shots, she finished at 9-under 279 for the tournament, beating fellow Korean Kim A-lim by two strokes to claim the title.
“It wasn’t the same kind of round as the previous three days, but I held on well,” Shin told the press after the game. “Today feels different from my first win.”
Shin, whose caddie is Shane Codd, qualified for the LPGA Tour after finishing fourth on the 2010 Epson Tour money list and turned professional as a rookie in 2011. Sunday’s win marked 3,738 days — nearly 10 years and three months — since her last LPGA victory at the 2016 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America.
She is the third LPGA player since 1980 to go 10 or more years between official victories after Vicki Fergon, who went 12 years, three months and six days between wins at the 1984 S&H Golf Classic and the 1996 Michelob Light Heartland Classic.
Shin was awarded a $300,000 winner’s check.
Jenny Shin putts during the second day of the 2026 ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland, on July 24.AP/YONHAP
On Sunday, she had carried a five-stroke solo lead into the final round, but the closing 18 holes proved anything but easy. She dropped three shots on the front nine alone, then turned the momentum with a birdie at the par-4 10th and added a crucial birdie at the par-4 12th.
Holding a four-stroke lead over Kim, Shin lost a shot at the 16th after her approach ran long. Her trip down the par-5 18th was no smoother, as her tee shot drifted right into the gorse. The ball was visible but buried too deep for an easy shot. She opted for a 58-degree wedge, managed to extract the ball cleanly and worked her way to the green with a layup and an approach shot. Her par putt came up short, but she sank the bogey putt to seal her first victory in more than a decade.
As she broke into tears, fellow Korean players Kim Hyo-joo, Chun In-gee, Lee Mi-hyang and Choi Hye-jin rushed over to her side to offer their congratulations.
Jenny Shin celebrates winning the 2026 ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland, on July 24.AP/YONHAP
Shin’s win was her ninth start at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. Her previous best finish had been a tie for 16th in 2023. She is also the third Korean winner of the event since it became co-sanctioned, following Hur Mi-jung in 2019 and Lee in 2017, and the third-oldest winner in the event’s history. The 2021 champion, Ryann O’Toole, was 34, and 2020 champion Stacy Lewis was 35 at the time of their wins.
Shin’s victory brings the total number of LPGA Tour wins by Korean players this season to six. Kim Hyo-joo has won twice, Lee and Shin have each won once and Ryu Hae-ran has two major titles.
