(Beijing, June 26) Feng Shanshan, China’s first golf major champion and world No. 1, officially became the China LPGA Tour’s first ambassador at a press conference preceding the 2024 Hubei China Ladies Elite.
At the event, Secretary-General Wei Qingfeng of the China Golf Association presented Feng with her ambassador certificate. In his speech, he said, “As a legendary role model in Chinese golf, Feng has passed the Olympic ‘baton’ to her teammates and now assumes a new responsibility as the ‘China LPGA Tour Ambassador.’ We believe Feng will fully leverage her influence at home and abroad, embracing her mission for the times, actively contributing to the development and promotion of women’s professional golf in China, achieving new milestones.”
In an interview after the press conference, Feng explained why she chose to become the first tour ambassador: “After my retirement to focus on family, I felt it was time to give back to the sport that has given me so much. I am definitely a beneficiary of golf, so I feel a sense of responsibility and obligation to contribute.
“Why did I choose to join the China LPGA family? On one hand, I see more and more juniors taking up golf, but on the other, many do it for academic reasons rather than aspiring to be professionals. I think one reason is they may not see the path to becoming a professional athlete, or they don’t have enough exposure to professional tournaments domestically, unsure of their career progression in golf.
“I believe we should maximize and improve the China LPGA platform to encourage these promising juniors to pursue a professional career. Eventually, they can represent our country overseas and even compete on the Olympic stage, bringing glory to the nation.”
Feng expressed gratitude to the China Golf Association and the China LPGA for their trust. She mentioned having had many discussions with Vice Chairman Pan Zhongguang, Secretary-General Wei, and Minister Li Hong before accepting this role, believing she was the right fit.
“Regarding the China LPGA, I first want to thank the China Golf Association, President Pan, and Minister Li for their unwavering support during such challenging times due to the pandemic. Without their efforts, the tour might not have survived. They’ve done an excellent job,” Feng said. “Over the years, the tour has seen growth in tournament purses, player fields, and various aspects. Although the number of events this year is slightly reduced due to some objective factors, over 20 Chinese players are now competing on the LPGA (both the main and developmental tours). When I started, there was only me on the LPGA. Now, having more than 20 is beyond what we could have imagined.
“For the future, we hope to increase the number of China LPGA events. Personally, I want to assist young players with planning. Each player has their own personality, playing style, and different goals. I believe I can offer some guidance in these areas. Additionally, I hope to generate good ideas and receive valuable suggestions during my tenure as ambassador, sharing all I can to promote the tour and make it the best it can be.”
During the Hubei China Ladies Elite, coinciding with the announcement of the Olympic team, Yin Ruoqing, Lin Xiuyu, Yuan Yechun, and Dou Zecheng will represent China in Paris. As China’s first Olympic medalist in golf, Feng extended her best wishes and believed both Yin and Lin had the potential to win medals. Lastly, she wished the 132 players competing at the site where she once triumphed, the Hubei Golden Bear Club, great success and continued progress in their careers.
