China Open continues to nurture domestic talent

When the Women's China Open first teed off in 2006, the occasion was quietly significant. At the time, women's golf in the Middle Kingdom was still a fledgling, taking its first steps in the global game. The domestic circuit was modest, the talent pool limited and the pathway to elite professional circuits like the LPGA Tour seemed distant, if not daunting.

Yet, that first swing in Xiamen coincided with the dawn of a new era, one in which the nation's most talented women would soon find their footing at home before spreading their wings abroad, challenging the best of the best and, eventually, writing Chinese golf into the pages of sporting history.

Nearly two decades after that inaugural event, the transformation has been profound in China. From Feng Shanshan's trailblazing major victory in 2012, to the steady rise of top players such as Lin Xiyu, Yin Ruoning and Miranda Wang on the LPGA Tour, and milestone Olympic Games moments in Rio de Janeiro and Paris where Feng and Lin earned their respective bronze medals, women's golf in China has been propelled with great force.

Such has been the impact and growth in China that a new generation of young golfers has emerged.

At the heart of this rise has been the Women's China Open, the flagship event on the CLPG Tour.

For Feng, the country's first major champion and its most iconic player, the Women's China Open was an early inspiration, especially when she saw first hand how South Korean superstars Shin Ji-yai, Kim Hyojoo and Park Sung-hyun dominated on Chinese soil by winning the Open five times amongst them. Shin is a former world No 1, Kim and Park are major champions and the trio holds a staggering 109 professional victories combined.

"Growing up as a young golfer, the Women's China Open was a tournament that held special meaning for me. The experiences I gained over the years played a pivotal role in shaping my career," said the now retired Feng, who has 23 career wins including 10 on the LPGA Tour.

"In the early days, competing against strong Korean players (in the Open) showed us just how high the standard was, and it motivated me to work harder, stay resilient, and keep striving for success in the game," added the 36-year-old, whose best finishes at the event include 2nd/2011, T3/2012, 4th/2016 and 3rd/2019.

Feng's victory at the Women's PGA Championship in 2012, one of golf's majors, broke barriers for Chinese golf, but she has never overlooked the foundation that the CLPG Tour and events like the Women's China Open provided. "I am proud to see Chinese golfers achieving success on the LPGA Tour, and I believe the future of women's golf in China is exceptionally bright. Today, we have a growing pool of talented amateurs excelling on the CLPG Tour and winning tournaments, which bodes well for the years ahead. I am confident the next decade will be a remarkable era for women's golf in China."

For Lin, who has taken a temporary leave of absence from the LPGA Tour for the arrival of her first child, the Women's China Open was both a launch pad and a personal milestone. She became the first Chinese golfer to lift the trophy in 2019, an achievement she cherishes as much as her achievements abroad, which include a podium finish at the Paris Olympic Games last summer.

"That achievement will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am proud to have contributed to the growth of our country's golfing history," said the 29-year-old Lin, who owns seven CLPG Tour victories. "From the time I began competing, the Women's China Open stood out as one of the most important tournaments on the calendar. It inspired me to push harder and strive for excellence. Like all great national Opens, it has played a pivotal role in developing women's golf, providing a stage for Chinese players to challenge themselves."

That sense of higher standards and bigger dreams has carried into the new generation. The 23-year-old Yin, who has already captured a major championship and the world No 1 ranking, treasures her formative experiences at the Women's China Open, where she finished tied fourth in 2018. "Competing in the Women's China Open was always special to me," said Yin, who is now ranked world No 7 and a holder of five LPGA victories. "The tournament has a different feel about it and there is extra motivation and pressure to perform well. As a junior golfer then, I understood what the event meant to us, and, looking back, those experiences have been meaningful in my journey as a golfer."

From the inaugural edition in Xiamen to this year's groundbreaking move to Shanghai where the tournament, which is promoted by Sportfive, will be played at Enhance Anting Golf Club from Oct 17-19, all eyes will be on the next wave of aspiring stars from China and the wider region. The local starlets include a group of amateurs such as 18-year-old Wang Zixuan, 16-year-old Xu Ying and 15-year-old Zhou Shiyuan — all of whom have won on the CLPG Tour this season.

The China LPG Tour has also provided opportunities for aspiring golfers from around the region to cut their professional teeth, with the likes of Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, Onkanok Soisuwan and Kan Bunnabodee of Thailand, Jocelyn Chee and Ng Jing Xuen of Malaysia, Singapore's Amanda Tan and Patricia Sinolungan of Indonesia benefitting immensely. With Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul rising to world No 1 recently, the importance of women's golf growth across the Asia-Pacific is not lost on many.

The upswing in fortunes is certainly testament to the Women's China Open, which is proving to be an origin of greatness for women's golf in the country, and regionwide.

The writer has formerly led the communications and marketing team for the PGA Tour in APAC and Asian Tour for a combined 25 years.