There can't be many professional golfers on the planet who have got the work-life balance sorted out better than former world No.1 Jiyai Shin.
And there mightn't be any who enjoy playing in Australia more than the diminutive 36-year-old from South Korea.
Shin has won an astonishing 65 professional tournaments on six different tours around the world - including five in Australia.
The most recent of those victories was a second Australian Open crown at Kingston Heath in December.
She has been back in Australia for the past few weeks for her regular (northern hemisphere) "winter camp", practising and working out at Moonah Links.
And few would bet against Shin making a winning start to 2025 at the Vic Open at 13th Beach this weekend - a tournament she won in 2023 before being pipped by a shot last year by Malaysian Ashley Lau.
"It was so close, but I feel refreshed now and I look forward to going for another win," Shin said.
"I had a solid week (at the Australian Open) and a great win.
"It was a great finish to the season and I had a lot to celebrate at the end of the year."
Were Shin to salute again Down Under on Sunday, she would draw level with the incomparable Jack Nicklaus, who won six of his 117 professional titles in Australia.
Nicklaus lifted the Australian Open trophy half a dozen times, most recently in 1978.
Shin first made her name as a youngster on the LPGA Tour, winning 11 times from 2008-13.
In 2010 she became the first Asian women's golfer to rise to No.1 in the world rankings.
But with family a major priority for Shin, in 2014 she made the difficult decision to give up her LPGA Tour membership and return home to South Korea, allowing her to predominantly ply her trade on the nearby Japanese LPGA Tour.
It also opened up the opportunity for the ever-smiling Korean to become a more regular visitor to Australia.
"I enjoyed the US Tour, but there is so much travelling and a very tight schedule and I just like my balance," Shin said.
"They have very good facilities and good tournaments for all the golfers.
"All golfers dream to play over there, but I feel (it can be) too much golf.
"I'm thinking more of my life balance."
The current world No.26 is clearly the highest-ranked player in either the women's or men's fields for the 2025 Vic Opens, which are contested over the Beach and Creek courses at the 13th Beach layout.
The opening rounds are on Thursday.
JIYAI SHIN'S 65 PROFESSIONAL WINS INCLUDE FIVE IN AUSTRALIA
* 2013 Australian Open
* 2016 Australian Ladies Masters
* 2018 Canberra Classic
* 2023 Vic Open
* 2024 Australian Open
