It’s been more than a decade since Jenny Shin tasted victory on the LPGA Tour, but she’s on the cusp of ending that drought.
After firing rounds of 66 and 67 over the first two days, the 33-year-old from South Korea carded a 1-under 71 Saturday at Dundonald Links to maintain a five-shot lead entering the final round of the 2026 ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.
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“This is the best ball-striking I’ve ever had coming into the Scottish Open,” Shin said after her third round. “I felt that during the practice round, as well, I was a lot less fearful over the ball compared to other years. So that has really helped my confidence. Confidence does wonders.”
Jenny Shin of South Korea lines up a putt during the third round of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open 2026 at Dundonald Links Golf Course on July 25, 2026 in Troon, Scotland.
Confidence is key, but it doesn’t make one immune to nerves.
“Hope I don’t go blind,” Shin said of her plan for Sunday’s final round. “There was a few times today where I was looking down at the ball but I couldn’t see the ball. So hopefully I can just focus on the things that I focused on, every single shot this week, not get ahead of myself.
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“It’s really hard, though. I can’t stop thinking about it. Every shot, I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ So I’m going to try my best to stay present.”
Shin isn’t a stranger to winning, but it’s been a long time. At age 13, she became one of the youngest players to win the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship, then turned pro in 2010. She won her first Futures Tour event that same year, then secured her maiden LPGA Tour victory at the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout in May 2016.
But since then, she has 28 top-10 finishes without a win. She’s in prime position to end that drought in Scotland.
In such a situation, most golfers would try to embrace the old phrase, “don’t think, just swing,” but Shin is unlike most golfers in that regard. She’s letting the thoughts run wild, and feeding off them as she tries to burst back into the winner’s circle.
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“I love thinking,” Shin said. “I love thinking about thinking. So it’s really chaotic in there. I don’t know how to explain it. I sometimes have no idea what I’m thinking about. Yeah, it’s really tuning myself up and thinking myself into it.”
Shin is set to tee off for her final round at 5:30 a.m. ET Sunday alongside Erika Hara and Pajaree Anannarukarn, who is Shin’s closest chaser at 7 under.
Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Seeking first win in 10 years, Jenny Shin maintains 5-shot lead at Women’s Scottish Open
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