Hinako Shibuno (22 = Suntory) passed the qualifying round 3 strokes behind second place. While each player was slow, they came second with 6 birdies and 2 bogies with the best score of 67. It increased by 4 to a total of 7 under and 135. After last year’s AIG British Women’s Open, the first big second Japan’s victory has become a reality. Nine people, including Shibuno and Yuka Sasao, who came in sixth, made it through the qualifying round in Japan, where 19 people participated, the most in the majors. Ten people did not qualify.

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When he took the lead in less than 30 minutes from the start, he widened the gap to second place as if it were a social distance reflecting current trends. Shibuno sank a 5-meter putt on the first par 5 and started the birdie. Made the most 6 birdies in Thailand on day two, squinting around the slow environment. Even if the 16 was used as a bogey in the final stage, he recovered the birdie on the 17 and recovered for the first time in this tournament. The momentum did not slow. There was no leaderboard on the trail, and I knew I was the leader for the first time after the hole, and I laughed: “I thought it was a dream. I don’t think it is. I was surprised. I want to take a picture now.”

It goes well with the green. It is decided that the putt about 5 meters from the first round is interesting. “It’s been a while since I’ve made such a good putt. I’m scared of myself. It’s a miracle I got 6 (birdies).” The parity rate is 81%, which is the second highest overall for the two days. The shot and the putt are compromised. On this day, the two bogies were No. 8 who went crazy from the rain and No. 16 who was unlucky with 3 putts kicked for the cup. The day before was a self-assessment of “100 points or more”, but this day it is “120 points”, and I feel like it’s going up.

Looking back at last year, I feel like I’m growing up and I say, ‘I play golf much better than the UK.’ He continued to attack without fear and achieved the second great victory of the Japanese, but now he says: “I am getting older little by little. I can think for myself and play good golf.” I also learned how to find a shortcut for birdies, attack strategically, and defend while defending.

He won the specialty and changed his personal life, saying, “I was often struck even when wearing a mask. I couldn’t go out to eat.” When they called me, I came back with a smile and said, “I feel like a good person,” and sometimes I didn’t feel familiar with the sudden life of a celebrity. On this day, he told his fans: “I hope you enjoy the miracle at the top.” After many twists and turns, a natural smile has returned.