Hinako Shibuno held on to a two-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Women’s Scottish Open, recovering from a shaky start to shoot a 68 at Dundonald Links.

The major champion started with a bogey on the first but soon turned her day around with a birdie on the second before adding another on the fifth.

Three more birdies on the back nine saw Shibuno head top the top of the leaderboard on 12-under.

“I’m very sad about the three-putt at the first hole,” she said. “I had a birdie on the second hole. I think I did very well today, so I was not thinking about yesterday.

“The wind was getting weaker and weaker, but there was still some wind, and it was very difficult for me. Maja [Stark] has a good rhythm and plays good, it’s the best player to play with.

“I was very calm today. The first time I won was the AIG Women’s Open and that was still in the UK, so maybe I feel better being here.”

Hinako Shibuno putter is hot ?#RaiseOurGame | #FGWSO pic.twitter.com/Ymn1bx54Fd

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 4, 2023

It was an impressive second round for Maja Stark who fired a 65 to climb into second place on 10-under-par.

Despite a having a headache on the first six holes, that didn’t stop the six-time LET winner who rolled in birdies on three, five and eight.

A dropped shot on the 10th spurred the Swede on further before she made five consecutive birdies — the second time she has done that on the LET — for a round of seven-under.

“It was very solid today,” said Stark. “I had a really frustrating headache on the first six holes. I didn’t really care about my game, to be honest. Maybe it was a good thing that I didn’t really pay attention.

“But then we got that figured out and I started making some putts. The bogey on 10 really made me start sharpening up and then I just felt like everything went smooth. I had a lot of confidence today.

“I practise every day, and I have a lot of good focus putting and a lot of drills trying to match read with speed and everything. It just makes it easier to especially visualise out there because they have so many little subtle slopes here.

“I’ve noticed that I play better when I feel like I have lots of open spaces around me because it doesn’t feel like I focus on the wrong things. For example, Evian, I could only look at the trees that I could hit into, and then I do. It’s nicer to be here, and I love links golf, so I think that’s also a factor.”

?️ birdies in a row for Maja Stark#RaiseOurGame | #FGWSO pic.twitter.com/ennLV9xMGN

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 4, 2023

France’s Celine Boutier and Australia’s Sarah Kemp are in a share of third place on seven-underafter they both fired rounds of 68 on day two at Dundonald Links.

Boutier, who won last week’s Amundi Evian Championship, only dropped two shots and rolled in six birdies.

“This morning was definitely a little bit less windy than yesterday and I feel like I had a lot of birdie chances,” said the major champion, who finished as runner-up here in 2022.

“More birdies than yesterday, so that was that pretty positive. I feel like my game is in place. I’m just hoping to keep going for the weekend.

“I am pretty tired, not going to lie. It was very tough to find some energy on the last nine, but I was able to finish the round, and I’m just going to do my best to rest for the weekend.”

The post Shibuno clings on to lead at Women’s Scottish Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Hinako Shibuno fired an opening round of 64 to lead by two strokes after the first day of the Women’s Scottish Open.

The Japanese star, who won the AIG Women’s Open in 2019, was bogey-free at Dundonald Links rolling in eight birdies.

Shibuno, who teed off from the 10th hole, began with a birdie and then made four on the trot on holes 13 through 16. And the major winner finished her round with a flourish making another three birdies in-a-row on holes six, seven and eight to sit at the top of the leaderboard on eight-under-par.

“It was really good overall,” said Shibuno. “I putted well. I like Scotland and I like playing in Scotland and the UK. I surprised myself with the four birdies in a row. I’m just being relaxed and more thinking about the sequence, the swing.”

Sweden’s Madelene Sagström sits in outright second place on six-under-par after firing a 66.

“It started really solid with three birdies right away,” said the LPGA Tour winner. “I made some really good iron shots today. It kept the driver in play and not fantastic, but I think my iron shots kept me in it. I made some easy putts and overall, a pretty easy day.

“I think it’s taken me a few years to figure links golf out. As an amateur, I hated it. I can’t hit it low, but I started working with Shane, my caddie who is Irish, two years ago.

“We’ve really been pushing it since and been able to be much more creative on the golf course and he’s helping me see the different shots now, so it’s really improved over the years. It’s been a journey.”

Three players are in a share of third place with Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall and American Caroline Inglis all on four-under-par.

Four players are one shot further back in a share of sixth place with Wales’ Lydia Hall, Sweden’s Maja Stark, France’s Celine Boutier and Australia’s Sarah Kemp all on three-under-par.

The post Shibuno opens up big lead on Day 1 of Women’s Scottish Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Hyo Joo Kim attempts to hula dance after winning the Lotte Championship. Sean M. Haffey

By Keely Levins

Hyo Joo Kim made the finish to her fifth career LPGA win more stressful than it needed to be Saturday at the Lotte Championship. A bogey at the 17th shrunk her three-shot lead at the start of the round to one over Hinako Shibuno. But Kim recovered immediately, taking advantage of the par-5 18th with a birdie. She finished at one-under 71 for the round and 11-under 277 for the tournament, two shots ahead of Shibuno.

“I feel very proud, a little confident about the future,” Kim said. “The outlook looks great for me and I feel like I can do better moving forward.”

The final group at Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, was a reminder that there’s more than one path to getting into contention at an LPGA tournament. Kim, the 26-year-old winner from South Korea, has something in common with one of her Sunday playing partners, Shibuno: Both women had won majors before becoming members of the LPGA Tour. Kim won the 2014 Amundi Evian Championship and Shibuno won the 2019 AIG Women’s Open. For Shibuno, the event was the first time she’d played outside of her home country, Japan.

Back in the Winner's Circle! ?

The final putt of the 2022 @LPGALOTTE belongs to Hyo Joo Kim! pic.twitter.com/2aoFVubbHr

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 17, 2022

While Kim accepted LPGA membership immediately after her win, Shibuno opted not to. She continued playing on the Japan LPGA Tour until making it through LPGA Tour Q-School in 2021. This year is her first full season on the LPGA Tour.

The third player in the final group was Brianna Do. The 32-year-old played college golf at UCLA and won the 2011 US Women’s Amateur Public Links title before turning pro in 2012. At the beginning of the week, Do was ranked No. 510 in the world and wasn’t even in the Lotte Championship field. She played in the Monday qualifier to earn her last-minute spot and she made the most of it. Rounds of 72-70-67 put her into the final group for the rare LPGA Saturday finish. But the gusting winds caught up with her, and she closed with a 77. Though she slid down the leader board to T-12, it’s her best finish in an LPGA event.

As the three players took different routes to the final group at the Lotte Championship, their paths now diverge again. Kim is hoisting her fifth LPGA trophy, Shibuno is working towards her first win as an LPGA Tour member, and Do is awaiting the reshuffle, hopeful this finish will help her gain better status and more LPGA starts.

More
Spieth wins hearts and minds at RBC Heritage
Thai stars sign up for Aramco Team Series — Bangkok
Saudi golf continues to thrive
Asian Tour breaking new ground with Trust Golf events
Chantananuwat clings on to lead at Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup
Thai teen Ratchanon Chantananuwat’s learning curve at Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup
Tiger confirms he will play Open at St Andrews
Scottie Scheffler continues the ride of his life

The post After bogey at 17, Hyo Joo Kim recovers to win Lotte Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Paisley
Hinako Shibuno, in her final bid to make the Japanese Olympic team, ran into two unforeseen hurdles Saturday at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. First, her caddie tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday and couldn’t be on her bag for the third round. Then, to completely ruin her Saturday at Atlanta Athletic Club, Shibuno suffered a septuple-bogey 10 on the 17th hole.

All this as Shibuno—the 2019 AIG Women’s Open champion—was trying to make a push to make the Olympics in her home country. After starting the season at No. 13 in the Rolex World Rankings, the 22-year-old had fallen to 31st heading into this week and was behind No. 11 Nasa Hataoka, No. 25 Mone Iname and No. 28 Ayaka Furue. The latter two weren’t entered this week, and with only two players able to represent Japan in Tokyo, Shibuno could make a big move with a strong performance at AAC.

Shibuno made the cut on the number with a 70 on Friday, but the 10 in the third round led to a 76, and at six over she was next-to-last among the weekend survivors.

At the par-3 17th, Shibuno hit into the water off the tee, then went to the drop zone. (There was hope, since he holed out from the drop zone for a par save at the 15th on Friday). But Shibuno hit three more into the lake from the 114-yard position before one-putting for a 10.

It was an awful end to a day that began badly. Tournament officials released two statements on Saturday about the situation regarding Shibuno’s caddie, Keisuke Fujino. One statement said that Fujino tested positive in a pre-travel test for a trip after the tournament, while a subsequent PCR test was negative. “Per championship protocols,” the statement read, “if a caddie tests positive, his/her player may continue to play under the direction of the LPGA’s medical director with daily testing.”

In her own statement released by officials, Shibuno said, “I do not have any symptoms and will play today under the LPGA’s guidelines. I will do my best and focus on my game, even with this difficult situation.”

The post Caddie tests positive for COVID-19 and water-logged 10 on a par-3. This pro had a really bad day appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Keely Levins
Hinako Shibuno isn’t a member of the LPGA Tour, but she’s leading a major for the second time in two years, with a one-shot advantage going into the final roun of the 75th U.S. Women’s Open. The Japan LPGA Tour member found fame at the 2019 AIG Women’s British Open, where she won the trophy and fans with her happy, smiling nature. All of which has resulted in her nickname, “Smiling Cinderella.”

But don’t let the smile fool you. She’s a competitor.

“I feel like it’s either a great poker face or she’s that smiling assassin,” Lydia Ko, who’s four back at even par, said of Shibuno. “I feel like I smile quite a lot out there, but I’m pretty grumpy compared to her. But, no, I think she’s stayed pretty calm and you saw her at the British Open, I’m sure, going into that Sunday there were, there might have been doubts, because not many people have heard of her compared to some other players. But she showed them who is boss and she’s clearly doing that right now.”

When Shibuno won the Women’s British Open, it was her first time playing golf outside of Japan. She showed up at the course thinking she was going to be playing a classic links-style layout, but Woburn Golf Club is a parkland course. The tournament turned her into an instant celebrity. She can’t go anywhere without being recognised in her home country.

“In Japan, even though I was wearing a mask, people recognised me,” Shibuno said.

When a non-member wins a major, she has the option to accept full LPGA Tour membership. Shibuno turned it down to get more experience playing on the JLPGA for another seaso, and 2019 was just her first season on the JLPGA. If she were to win this major, however, she’s quick to say she’d accept LPGA membership this time.

Carmen Mandato

After two rounds at the U.S. Women’s Open, the 22-year-old led by three. Saturday was a tough day at Champions Golf Club, with only two players shooting under par. Shibuno was one of the many players who found several bogeys on the Cypress Creek course. She finished with a bogey at the 18th, shooting a three-over 74. It was just enough to maintain the lead, by one over Amy Olson.

It’s a much better performance than she’s had at the other majors in 2020. Shibuno played the Women’s British Open, but missed the cut in her title defence. At the ANA Inspiration, she finished T-51. At the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, she finished T-58.

At Champions Golf Club, however, we’re seeing more of the type of play that led her to her breakout win in 2019. Though she lost some approach shots off to the right, causing her to miss more greens than she’d like—seven on Saturday— her driver has been consistent, and she hit 12 of 14 fairways during the third round.

And then of course, there is that intensity mixed with the smile.

“Her demeanour and how calm and cool, calm and collected she’s been, is definitely an impressive part,” Ko said of Shibuno’s game.

As Shibuno sleeps on the lead heading into Sunday of a major for the second time in her short career, she can take solace in knowing she’s been here before. And though a one-shot lead is small, it’s all she needed to win her last major.

The post With lead heading into final round, it’s deja vu for Japan’s ‘Smiling Cinderella’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Keely Levins
Hinako Shibuno became the LPGA Tour’s most unlikely winner of 2019 when she won the AIG Women’s British Open, her first-ever tournament outside of Japan. An instant crowd-favourite due to her bubbly on-course demeanour and constant smile, the 20-year-old rookie on the Japanese LPGA Tour didn’t instantly decide to take the option of joining the LPGA Tour as a major champ. But now, the November 18th deadline is approaching.

Shibuno is playing in her first LPGA event since her Open win in August at this week’s Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA. And in her pre-tournament press conference, she gave a surprising response to the question of accepting LPGA membership.

“I don’t think I have enough skills to play on the U.S. LPGA, and only my first year on the Japan Tour, so I think I need to play a few more years on the Japan Tour before going to the U.S.,” Shibuno said.

While it seems like someone who’s won a major should certainly be good enough to play on the LPGA Tour, Shibuno is taking a mature route, making sure that the win is demonstrative of where her game actually is before she puts herself in the position of having to perform on the LPGA Tour every week. If she sticks to her plan and doesn’t accept LPGA membership, her Open title gets her starts as a non-member in each of the LPGA’s five majors and the HSBC Women’s World Championship.

Since that victory in England, Shibuno has been playing in Japan, winning the Descente Ladies Tokai Classic for her third JLPGA title of 2019. She says that after capturing her first major, she can’t walk outside without being recognized. That will likely translate into big crowds in her home country when she makes her third LPGA start of the year at next week’s TOTO Japan Classic.

The post Why Women’s British Open winner Hinako Shibuno might not join LPGA Tour next season appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Roks was so into the event that he bought a Wake Forest golf shirt to match the one he knew I was bringing. And he drained the last five putts he looked at and we danced around the 18th green as we had just hit the lottery. Good times. Anyway, with a heavy heart, let’s turn to everything else happening in the world of golf.

WE’RE BUYING

J.T. Poston: What a performance by Poston, who is winning the Wyndham Championship matched Lee Trevino at the 1974 Greater New Orleans Open (now the Zurich Classic) by not making a single bogey for 72 holes and winning a PGA Tour event. Remarkable.

Streeter Lecka

A couple of weeks ago, a newspaper spelt his name wrong when he was leading the Barbasol Championship. And just a couple of years ago, Poston tweeted that he was mistaken for a valet at the Honda Classic and that he needed to play better. Now he’s hash-tagging tweets with “playED” better.

All I can say is WOW!! @PGATOUR winner!! What an unbelievable week in my backyard in NC!! Absolutely loved playing in front of so many familiar faces and to go 72 holes without a bogey. Don’t think I can dream it up any better than that #playedbetter

— J.T. Poston (@JT_ThePostman) August 5, 2019

Well played. By the way, J.T. Poston has a win this season while JT (Justin Thomas) remains winless. Golf is a crazy sport, huh?

Hinako Shibuno: Speaking of crazy, how about this 20-year-old Japanese golfer’s debut outside of her home country at the AIG Women’s British Open? A closing 20-foot birdie gave her a one-shot win over Lizette Salas at England’s Woburn Golf Club. And it’s a good thing it went in because it might have rolled to Scotland if it hadn’t hit the hole:

BANG ?

Hinako Shibuno, " The Smiling Cinderella" drills the back of the cup for birdie to win the 2019 @AIGWBO!

??? pic.twitter.com/2TztfpPT0p

— LPGA (@LPGA) August 4, 2019

Too bad Mike Breen wasn’t on the call … BANG! In addition to her superb play, Shibuno, who became just the second Japanese golfer to win a major championship, was praised for her pace of play and attitude. She’s nicknamed “the Smiling Cinderella,” and we are looking forward to seeing more of her in years to come.

“The Hovland Rule”: First of all, I’m buying Viktor Hovland, who continued his impressive play since turning pro after the U.S. Open with a fourth-place finish in Greensboro. But second, I’m into the new USGA rule clearly made with him in mind that will allow the reigning U.S. Amateur champ to turn pro and still keep his exemption into the U.S. Open the following year. Had Hovland’s T-13 at Pebble Beach counted toward his PGA Tour earnings, he would have still just missed wrapping up his card for next season (he is eligible to play in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals), but at least he would be roughly $250,000 richer. Hopefully, the Masters will allow its amateur qualifiers to turn pro as well, but it’s the Masters, and the people there do whatever they want, so they probably won’t. And again, it’s too bad the Hovland Rule won’t actually help Hovland.

WE’RE SELLING

Dumb penalties: Brendan Steele was docked two strokes for using an alignment stick during a round. This is dumb, A) Because alignment sticks are dumb in general and he could have just used a club or a regular stick instead, and B) Because how did he not realize instantly that using an alignment stick during a round is a penalty? Then there was Josh Teater, who picked up his ball in the fairway because lift, clean and place were used the first two rounds. More understandable, but again, dumb. Not that I should say anything like someone who once just scooped a ball up during a stroke-play event. Unfortunately for Steele and Teater, neither were able to climb into the top 125 and get into the FedEx Cup Playoffs. If they decide to play in the Korn Ferry Finals, we’re betting they won’t commit either of these infractions again.

Jordan Spieth: Seriously, what is going on? A 77 after putting himself in contention heading into the weekend? At the Wyndham Championship?! Why is Jordan Spieth even playing in the Wyndham Championship?!

Tyler Lecka

In any event, the struggle is real.

The Women’s British Open venue: I’m sure Woburn Golf Club is a fantastic track, but it seemed odd seeing a British Open being played on a course that looked like it was in central New York.

Richard Heathcote

Boring.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour’s top 125 head to Liberty National, AKA that place with the views of the Statue of Liberty, for the Northern Trust, the first of three FedEx Cup Playoff events. Yep, that’s three instead of the usual four. Another tweak? That bonus has been bumped up to $15 MILLION. For more about the postseason, check out this postseason preview from GolfDigest.com’s newest hire, Greg Gottfried.

Random tournament fact: Liberty National’s 13th hole was the site of Tiger Woods’ famously falling to his knees in pain at the 2013 (Is that enough 13s for you?) Barclays. It’s also the site of his ominous, “Yeah, definitely,” press conference at the 2017 Presidents Cup when he was asked if he could see a scenario in which he didn’t return to professional golf. Fingers crossed that he has a more positive outlook when he plays for the first time since saying, “I just want to go home,” after missing the cut at the Open last month. And in 2009, he missed a short birdie on the 72nd hole to lose to Heath Slocum, the No. 124 player in the FedEx Cup standings. In other words, this isn’t Tiger’s favourite place in the world.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0rTQAODPPW/?utm_source=ig_embed

What a year for the Woodlands.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (YOUNG STUDS DIVISION)

How about Matthew Wolff going full Sergio Garcia on this incredible approach shot?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0yn3OuHm7V/?utm_source=ig_embed

To clarify, that’s going full GOOD Sergio Garcia. Not the videos of the Spaniard destroying golf courses and throwing golf clubs that have been going viral of late …

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (YOUNGER STUDS DIVISION)

https://twitter.com/Max_Marcovitch/status/1156232679450431493

SIX-foot-EIGHT at 14?! Good lord, what a beast this guy is going to be.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (EVEN YOUNGER STUDS DIVISION)

?HOLE-IN-ONE ALERT?

Congratulations to Kevin Zhang (10) from Clemmons, NC who made his very first hole-in-one during his very first PGA Jr. League match!! ?? pic.twitter.com/14OvaBuHV5

— PGA Jr. League (@PGAJrLeague) August 5, 2019

A hole-in-one at 10?! And I’m still waiting for my first? Must be nice, kid.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (OLD STUDS DIVISION)

Bernhard Langer has more trophies than you:

He also has a very understanding wife to let him just toss those trophies all over the house.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

J.T. Poston’s caddie, Aaron Flener, when learning his man is paired with Tiger Woods this week:

I’m having a little trouble breathing right now. pic.twitter.com/SMOLGetxih

— Aaron Flener (@AaronFlener) August 5, 2019

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

I know I need to let go of the past, but when you crush the past like this it can be hard to let go of it. pic.twitter.com/6jxJFL7KgV

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 4, 2019

Admittedly, I thought this was Dick Fowler, P.I., when I first saw it. But nope, it’s Phil. Wow. Just … wow.

THIS WEEK IN DUSTIN JOHNSON-PAULINA GRETZKY BROOKS KOEPKA-JENA SIMS PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION SORCERY

Remember those white pants Jena ruined last week? Well, apparently, one of her friends saved them somehow:

Amazing.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to NHL referee Garrett Rank, who won the prestigious Western Amateur. Rank also qualified for the 2018 U.S. Open. Talk about having some serious street cred at the next hockey game he officiates. … Congrats to Jake Beber-Frankel, the son of Oscar-winning director David Frankel, who broke Akshay Bhatia’s scoring record at the Junior PGA Championship. And now 6-foot-8 Tommy Morrison is coming for them. … Long Drive champ Maurice Allen hit one across Niagara Falls 14 years after John Daly failed to do so. To summarize: John Daly hits it hard, but Maurice Allen hits it harder. … And finally, one more shout-out to my fallen friend by looking back to when he won his second green jacket at the 2013 HGGA Championship:

Of course, that was the year he showed up to Myrtle Beach as a “16” handicap. The rest of us had no chance.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Which golfer has the biggest trophy collection?

Can Jena’s friend work on a couple of my golf shirts?

Do sandbaggers go to heaven? (Kidding, Roks. RIP buddy.)

The post A new rule comes too late, Matthew Wolff channels (good) Sergio Garcia, and Phil Mickelson’s groovy photo appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Keely Levins
It would be hard to find a player less likely to win the AIG Women’s British Open than Hinako Shibuno. The 20-year-old from Japan is a rookie on the Japanese LPGA Tour, and when she teed it up at Woburn Golf Club, it was her first time playing a tournament outside of her home country. Before she arrived, Shibuno thought Woburn was a links course (it’s a parkland course). No one considered her a potential winner, not even herself. She came into the week just hoping to make the cut.

But with a final-round 68 that ended with her holing a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th, Shibuno became an unlikely major champion. She finished at 18-under-par 270, one shot ahead of Lizette Salas.

There was a hole early on that could have derailed this underdog story. Shibuno, who had made four bogeys in three rounds, four-putted the third hole of the final round to make double bogey. That might have set off a sequence of other mistakes, what one would expect of a young player who had never played in a major before, let alone been in contention. Instead, she birdied the next two holes. She faltered again with a bogey on the eighth hole, turned in one-over 37, then played the back nine in five-under 31. For the week, she played the back nine in 18 under.

What also might have unnerved Shibuno was that Jin Young Ko, No. 1 the Rolex Rankings and coming off a win in the Evian Championship the week before, was lurking near the lead the entire final round. It didn’t.

Meanwhile, Salas, paired in the same twosome as Ko, was having one of the greatest rounds of her career. She even had a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would then have forced Shibuno to make birdie to get into a playoff. But Salas’ birdie attempt lipped out, and she had to settle for a closing 65 and a wait to see if her 17-under total might hold up.

Ross Kinnaird

No one would have been surprised had Shibuno not maintained her composure. But she continued to smile after every shot—her nickname on the JLPGA is Smiling Cinderella—and high-fived some of the many fans she gained this week as she walked between holes. Her routine never changed. She spends very little time over the ball, and her pace never changed through to the end.

The winning putt appeared to have too much speed. She lifted the putter and her left leg as the ball sped to the hole, hit the back of the cup and dropped. She had won the Women’s British Open.

Jan Kruger/WME IMG

The win will change her life. She’s now only the second Japanese golfer, male or female, to win a major, the first being Chako Higuchi, the 1977 KPMG Women’s PGA champion. By winning the Women’s British Open, Shibuno has the option to accept status on the LPGA, effective immediately. Or, she can choose to join the tour in the 2020 season. But for Smiling Cinderella, fortunate to have escaped any clocks striking midnight, she probably isn’t thinking about all of that in the immediate aftermath of her unlikely victory, the stuff of fairytales. And with that back nine and the birdie putt win, the stuff of champions, too.

The post Hinako Shibuno, the AIG Women’s British Open winner that no one saw coming appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Keely Levins
On the front nine of the third round of the AIG Women’s British Open, it seemed as though Hinako Shibuno finally became aware of where she was and what she was doing. Not that making two bogeys in five holes is a total meltdown, but it was more in line with the type of golf one might expect from one who was playing a tournament outside her home country of Japan for the first time.

Until then, she’d made just two bogeys in the first two rounds and was in second place. A Japan LPGA rookie, Shibuno shot a one-over 37 on the front nine Saturday, and given her inexperience, seemed likely to head down the leader board.

Instead, she did the opposite.

Shibuno made six birdies on the back nine, including birdies on 17 and 18, to shoot 30 for a score of five-under-par 67 and a two-stroke lead over Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa. For a player who showed up at Woburn Golf Club thinking it was a links golf course and hoping only to make the cut, Shibuno now has a chance to win.

“I think it’s really similar” to Japanese courses, Shibuno said of the parkland course after playing the first round. “So I really played relaxed and confident.”

Shibuno, 20, has won twice on the JLPGA this year, but a third victory, in her first major, will be significantly more difficult with three major champions among those in close pursuit. Sung Hyun Park, the winner of the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, is at 11 under, three shots behind Shibuno. Morgan Pressel, the 2007 ANA Inspiration winner, and Jin Young Ko, the winner of the ANA Inspiration in April and the Evian Championship last week are four back.

If Shibuno was feeling the pressure of leading a major, she was not showing it. She smiles constantly while she plays, part of what earned her the nickname the Smiling Cinderella. As she walked to the 18th tee on Saturday, she paused to take a selfie and sign an autograph for a young fan. Maybe there’s something to be said for showing up at a major not knowing anything about the course that creates freedom from expectations.

Sunday will be interesting however it turns out for the Smiling Cinderalla, maybe even a fairytale ending for her.

The post Hinako Shibuno is playing outside Japan for the first time and is leading the AIG Women’s British Open by two appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.