Jenny Shin fell in love with links golf the first time she played the Women’s British Open at Carnoustie 15 years ago.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, what I was playing,” she said. “One day it was blowing 40 miles. The next day, it’s just calm. I had forgotten to play when it was calm.
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“So I kind of fell in love, like this is a true test of golf. You have to be so creative, and I’m quite creative around the greens and I love hitting different shots.”
Jenny Shin of South Korea during the second round of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open 2026 at Dundonald Links Golf Course on July 24, 2026 in Troon, Scotland.
Shin’s love is certainly shining through at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, where she leads by five at the halfway mark. Rounds of 66-67 put her at 11 under for the tournament, taking a total of 50 putts in the first two rounds. She’ll play in the final group on Saturday alongside Olympic silver medalist Esther Henseleit. Major champion A Lim Kim is six shots back at 5 under.
Shin said she’s never skipped the Scottish Open, calling it her favorite stop on tour.
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“Dundonald is a little bit different,” she said of the Ayrshire links. “This year is a bit different, as well. Greens are surprisingly a bit receptive, like on the last hole. I knew if I landed it – it would still stop. I feel like if the greens were firm like some other British Open courses, but the greens here are poa annua. It’s not like full fescue greens.
“And I’ve been to Dundonald quite a lot. Like I walk to the green and I know where that’s going to break. So there’s a bit of an advantage to having some familiarity with the golf course.”
The cut fell at 6 over for the tournament, with 65 players making the weekend.
Charley Hull rallied to play the weekend after a disastrous quadruple-bogey nine that went viral in the first round.
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After an opening 6-over 78 at Dundonald Links, the popular British player posted a 71 on Friday to make the cut at 5 over in a share of 49th, jumping up 40 places.
Nelly Korda of United States during the second round of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open 2026 at Dundonald Links Golf Course on July 24, 2026 in Troon, Scotland.
Nelly Korda bogeyed her last four holes to shoot 76. She’s 4 over for the tournament and in a share of 41st.
Defending champion Lottie Woad shot 70 to move into a share of 11th, 11 strokes back.
“Still a fair bit back but the weather is not going to be great over the weekend,” she said, “I think a lot can change.”
Thirty-three-year-old Shin, whose lone LPGA title came in 2016, said she’ll have no problem sleeping Saturday night – “I’m knackered.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Links lover Jenny Shin leads Women’s Scottish Open by 5, Nelly Korda 15 back
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