On the morning of the 29th, a day before the opening of the 13th KG Ladies Open of the 2024 Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, an official practice was held at Sunning Point CC in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Shin-ae Ahn is waving while moving. Sunning Point CC = Reporter Si-jong Jeong capa@edaily.co.kr /2024.08.29.
“This is my last competition (on the Japanese stage).”
Professional golfer Shin-ae Ahn (34) announced her retirement from the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour.
According to the JLPGA Tour, Shin-ae Ahn said after the 51st Miyagi TV Cup Dunlop Women’s Open Golf Tournament held at Rifu Golf Club in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan on the 22nd, “I can still compete in the tournament as a recommended player, but I wanted to earn the opportunity to compete on my own. Unfortunately, this was my last competition.”
It is to take care of her father, Ahn Hyo-jung. Ahn Hyo-jung, who is battling pancreatic cancer, is currently in Korea. If Ahn Shin-ae continues to play in Japan, it will be difficult for her to take care of her father. Therefore, Ahn Shin-ae has announced her retirement from the Japan tour and wants to spend time with her father in Korea.
Ahn Shin-ae participated in the Hanwha Classic of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour held in Korea in August and the KG Ladies Open in September as a recommended player. This was also to spend time with her father. During this period, Ahn Hyo-jung even bought a camper van to follow his daughter’s game. He also cheered her on by going around the nine holes with his daughter on the field.
On the morning of the 29th, a day before the opening of the 13th KG Ladies Open of the 2024 Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, an official practice was held at Sunning Point CC in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Shin-ae Ahn is practicing. Sunning Point CC = Reporter Si-jong Jeong capa@edaily.co.kr /2024.08.29.
At the time, Ahn Shin-ae said in an interview with our newspaper, “I had only one goal in participating in this Korean competition. My father is not in good health, and I wanted to have a good time with him.” He said, “I guess I should say this is a reward for all the hard work my father has put in to raise me as a golfer. I’m glad that he’s so happy to be back on the field after such a long time.”
In an interview with the JLPGA Tour, Ahn Shin-ae looked back and said, “I was able to pursue a career in golf because my parents created a good environment for me. Through golf, I became a national representative in New Zealand and even won the Korean tour. I decided to retire in Japan, where I had always dreamed of.”
In the KLPGA Tour, a recommended player can participate in the regular tour twice in the first half of the year and twice in the second half of the year, and Shin-ae Ahn completed both recommended player participations. After that, Shin-ae Ahn returned to Japan and participated in the JLPGA Tour, but soon announced her retirement.
Ahn Shin-ae said, “I wanted to express my gratitude to the Japanese fans. I worked hard to win in front of the fans, but my skills were lacking.” She added, “This season was rewarding and had many good memories. I competed in two competitions in Korea, and I was able to show my father what I can do as an active player.”
On the morning of the 29th, a day before the opening of the 13th KG Ladies Open of the 2024 Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, an official practice was held at Sunning Point CC in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Shin-ae Ahn is teeing off. Sunning Point CC = Reporter Si-jong Jeong capa@edaily.co.kr /2024.08.29.
Ahn Shin-ae’s ‘second life’ has not been decided yet. She only hinted that she “wants to do something related to golf.” Ahn Shin-ae said, “For me, golf is like a passport. The only passport in the world needs to be renewed. Today (when I retire) is the time. Golf is my identity,” and said goodbye as a player.
Shin-ae Ahn, who debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2009 and won the Rookie of the Year award, won the first Hidden Valley Women’s Open and the High1 Resort Cup SBS Charity Women’s Open in 2010, achieving multiple wins. In 2015, she won the major tournament, the Isu Group KLPGA Championship, and was crowned Major Queen. After that, she challenged the JLPGA Tour in 2017 and announced her retirement after playing for about 8 years.
Reporter Seungjae Yoon yogiyoon@edaily.co.kr
