Ji-Yai Shin's win yesterday was her 27^th career worldwide but only her first as an LPGA member - which might also be only her first career point towards the Hall Of Fame.  From the tournament notes page at LPGA.com:

"Well, actually, this tournament, my goal was top 10," said Shin, who broke a LPGA Tour record in 2008 for most wins by a non-member with three (considered unofficial for her LPGA career).

What does "unofficial" mean in this context?  Certainly not "unofficial" as in Stacy Lewis' one-round victory at Arkansas in 2007 but the writer is inferring something that seems to matter.  Does it mean that Shin's three wins last year count for nothing as far as HOF points or career LPGA victories go?  That had better NOT be the case.  Why?

Laura Davies' bio page shows 20 career victories, which includes her 1987 U.S. Open title won before she became a member.  Add in the bonus points for that U.S. Open win, her 1994 and '96 LPGA Championships, the 1996 du Maurier and her 1996 Rolex Player of the Year award.  That makes the 25 points that leave Laura two shy of HOF induction, which we've heard about many, many times over the last few years.  Obviously Davies' 1987 Open title counts in her point total and in her career victory total.  That's why Ji-Yai Shin now has five HOF points and four career wins, no matter how "unofficial" those 2008 victories are to somebody in the Tour office.

These limited elite fields can make it really tough to pick a Big Surprise.  I thought maybe Amy Yang should get it, but she's already had two finishes better than this week's T14 in her short career.  For the first time ever - no Big Surprise Award.  The Big Disappointment is Brittany Lang, who snapped her Top 10 streak in a big way by finishing T50.

It was great to see Mi Hyun Kim (T9) and Se Ri Pak (13^th) back in the Top 20 this week.  Neither had the kind of 2008 that they or their fans hoped for, so perhaps '09 will bring better results for both of these Korean superstars.