Hinako Shibuno’s Bright Smile and Successful Season Start

Hinako Shibuno (25), known for her “Cinderella Smile” in women’s golf, lit up not on the green, but on the mound.

 

On July 6th, at Fuji Mountain Stadium in Shizuoka, Shibuno threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Japan-US Softball Match. She was invited due to her connection with softball, having played it alongside golf since second grade. By sixth grade, she excelled as the ace pitcher and left-handed cleanup batter. Despite throwing a low ball, her smooth pitching form delivered a strike right into the catcher’s mitt. “I was nervous, but I’m glad it was a clean pitch,” she said with a broad smile.

Hinako Shibuno, who was on a temporary return from the intense battles of the U.S. tour, seemed to have a refreshing break. The highlight of her first half was undoubtedly her second-place finish at the U.S. Women’s Open. Although she finished 3 shots behind the winner, Yuka Saso (23), this top finish amidst a series of missed cuts undoubtedly gave her a significant boost for future competitions.

Firstly, concerns about next season’s seeding rights, initially a worry, are now alleviated. Her second-place finish at the U.S. Women’s Open propelled her to 32nd in the CME Globe Points Ranking, leaping 106 spots and currently (as of July 1st) standing at 28th. This places her comfortably within the top 80, securing full seeding for next season.

However, this season has been challenging from the start. She began with a 69th place finish at the Honda LPGA Thailand, followed by four consecutive missed cuts. Despite struggling with inconsistent play, she managed to make the cut at the Chevron Championship in April (T50) and the JM Eagle L.A. Championship in May (73rd). Yet, she experienced back-to-back missed cuts at the Founders Cup and Mizuho Americas Open tournaments.

In the midst of these challenges, Hinako Shibuno achieved a major breakthrough with a second-place finish at the second U.S. women’s major, the U.S. Women’s Open. She continued her momentum by making the cut in the next two tournaments, leading up to a tied 7th finish at the third major of June, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Her consecutive top-10 finishes in majors reaffirm her strength on the big stage. Her post-match comments also reflected a renewed sense of vigor and determination. 

 

“I felt I endured well on the first and second days, but it’s really disappointing that I couldn’t push through on the third and fourth days. I still feel like I have more to give, so I want to practice more and prepare for the next tournament.”

 

Over the past few years, Shibuno has faced many challenges with her swing modifications, leading to stress from not seeing improved results. However, her shots and putts have gradually become more stable, leading to better outcomes. Despite this progress, she remains humble. “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” she says, highlighting the unpredictable nature of golf, where performance can vary greatly. Still, Shibuno continues to believe in her approach and moves forward with determination.

 

A positive outlook is one of Shibuno’s strengths. As her results improve, she gains new confidence. After her second-place finish at the U.S. Women’s Open, she expressed optimism: “I feel like this is a new start, a new chapter, so I’m very positive.”

 

This week, Shibuno is set to compete in the fourth major of the season, the Amundi Evian Championship in France. She departed for France on the 7th and is preparing for the tournament, which begins on the 11th. Given her strong performance this season, all eyes are on whether she can secure her second major title since her victory at the 2019 AIG Women’s Open.