The 20-year-old became the first Japanese golfer in 42 years to win an overseas major, when she finished 18-under to claim a one-stroke victory over American Lizette Salas at Woburn Golf Club on Sunday (August 4). 

The victory sees Shibuno jump up from 46th to 14th in the latest International Golf Federation (IGF) world rankings, making a place at the Olympics more likely.

Qualification for the 2020 Games will be based on the Olympic Golf Rankings, formulated using the IGF world golf rankings.

The top 15 golfers qualify for the games, with a limit of four players per country, based on the rankings on June 30, 2020.

At a press conference held at Tokyo's Haneda airport after she was greeted by reporters and fans on her return, Shibuno said competing in front of a home crowd and winning a medal was now her next aim.

"I don't know if I can compete, but I want to win the gold medal because the competition takes place in Japan," Shibuno said. 

In what was Shibuno's first tournament outside of Japan, she was the only golfer to post scores in the 60s on all four days. 

"I had the sole lead after the third round, so that's when I started thinking about the possibility of winning," she said. 

"But it didn't occur to me until making a birdie putt on the final hole that it was actually possible.

"I used to think that I'd be satisfied as long as I could compete at one overseas major during my entire career, this is more than I imagined.

"I was so surprised the moment I sealed the victory.

"I thought I would cry, but I didn't, I was just so happy."