Korea`s Newest Golf Star Shin Tells More About Herself

Korea’s most outstanding female golfer Shin Ji-yai is nicknamed “Smile Angel.”

She is usually willing to give a helping hand to those in need and smiles for her fans.

In 2007, Shin even presented a golf ball to a four-year-old American girl at the Women’s U.S. Open. Touched by the gift, the girl’s mother sent an e-mail to the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association.

Shin, however, says her fans make her crazy at times. The craziest thing a fan asked her was to autograph a tee narrower than a pencil.

After winning the HSBC Women’s Champions last weekend, Shin held an interview with the LPGA and talked about her private life.

She said the best present she ever received was the box containing one million dollars for winning the ADT Championship in November last year.

When asked whom she would trade places for a day, Shin answered, “My dad. I want to know why he bosses me around so much.”

Shin said the person she calls most on her mobile phone is her boyfriend.

She also said she would like to be a chef if she could perform another job for a day. “If calories and fat didn’t exist or matter, I would eat ice cream every day,” she added.

kjs0123@donga.com