Ann Shin Ae Discusses Her Return to Japan and Thoughts on Decreasing Media Exposure

By passing the re-ranking, she cleared one of her goals for the first half of the season. However, at the tour site for the first time in five years, she feels a generation change.

“Young players are really leading the Japan tour, and their performance is remarkable. They have distance, but many are also very skilled in the short game.”

Regarding the atmosphere of the galleries, she said, “Japanese spectators and fans have good manners, and I feel their strong support for the players every time I participate in a match. Despite being away from the tour for five years, I find it very strange and am always filled with gratitude that there are fans who still support me,” she said with a smile.

From now on, she will enter a series of grueling summer tournaments. Of course, she has the desire to win, but she is primarily focused on playing her own game.

“After participating in several tournaments, my shot distance has increased, and my accuracy has improved. If I can maintain this form, I believe I can expect good results in the second half of the season. My greens in regulation percentage is low, so that is something I need to correct. The greens are small, and there are many elevated greens, so there is a bit of pressure when hitting second shots or tee shots on par 3s. I want to work hard on practicing to further improve my shot accuracy. My goal is to pass the second re-ranking.”

In 2020, despite having the right to participate in the Japan tour, Ahn Shin Ae was forced to give up traveling between Japan and Korea due to entry restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a decline in her motivation and her natural disappearance from the public stage. Having once withdrawn from the front lines, Ahn Shin Ae is now back in front of many Japanese fans, steadily achieving results and continuing her golf career. Her mental fortitude deserves even more applause.

Of course, her desire to entertain viewers with her bright-colored outfits and mini skirts, which often become a topic of conversation, has not changed. Interestingly, Ahn Shin Ae was aware that the media’s attention on her is lower than it used to be. She laughed and said about this:

“It is true that there is less interest in me than before (laughs). But I am still enjoying golf every match. If anything, the pressure is gone, and I can enjoy my golf, and I feel very relaxed.”

Of course, if she gets involved in the battle for victory, her opportunities to appear on broadcasts and in the media will naturally increase. As a visual queen competing among the younger players, we hope she will play a role in revitalizing the golf world in the second half of the season.