The LPGA Tour Championship suffered more rain delays on Saturday and the officials have decided to shorten it to 54 holes. They hope to finish round two Sunday morning and then play then play the final (third) round on Monday. It’s not like they haven’t been keeping busy in Houston. On Friday night they held the Rolex Award reception. Normally all the awards would have been handed out then, but with The Player of the Year still undecided they’ll have to wait until Monday’s outcome to make that presentation.
The Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year award was decided long ago and winner Jiyai Shin stole the
show at the awards ceremony with her emotional and heartfelt acceptance speech. Shin has had an astonishing year: Rookie of the Year, leads in Player of the Year points, claimed the money title and won three events. If an American golfer was having this kind of season she’d be all over the sporting news. Because Shin is from South Korea, she blends into the group of dozens of South Korean golfers that play on the tour and that most American golf fans choose to ignore.
It’s a shame that more fans don’t make an effort to follow some of these young ladies. Shin is an intelligent, affable young woman with a world of talent. She not only works hard on her golf game, but she has been working very hard on improving her English. She felt it was important to give her speech in English and according to Beth Ann Baldry, Shin gave an excellent speech.
“Shin paid tribute to LPGA founders, saying the financial troubles the tour now faces are nothing compared to what players like Suggs endured. She dedicated the evening to her mother, who died in 2003 from injuries sustained in a car crash.
‘Some of us play for quiet, shy girls with little glasses who have a song in their hearts,’ Shin said. ‘To those girls I say, ‘Do not be afraid. Dream big.’
She then walked down from the stage and gave Suggs a heartfelt thank you.
Pure class.”
With the LPGA becoming more international each day it would be wise for the American fans to learn a bit more about the ladies that come from other countries. They love the game and have the same dreams that all our favorite Americans do.
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