LPGA

Could Feng's LPGA Victory Spark Golf's Popularity Growth In China?

Published June 12, 2012

Golfer Shanshan Feng became the first player from mainland China to win an LPGA event with her victory Sunday at the Wegmans LPGA Championship, and she “may have helped hyper-accelerate a fledgling game there with all kinds of crazy potential,” according to Randall Mell of GOLFCHANNEL.com. She also became the “first man or woman from there to win a major championship in golf.” Feng said, “I would say if the Koreans can do it, China can do it. I think in the future, China will be one of the strongest countries in golf.” Feng’s victory, combined with golf becoming an Olympic sport in ‘16, is “expected to light a fire for the game in China.” Feng's coach Gary Gilchrist said, “Golf has never been a major sport in China because it’s never been an Olympic sport. China sports are all about the Olympics, so a lot more people are excited about golf now” (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 6/10). She added, "It’s really going to help golf in China because now we know Chinese can be winning all over the world.” GOLFWEEK’s Beth Ann Baldry noted while golf is “unattainable to the vast majority of Chinese, the world is well aware of what happens when the Chinese government puts resources behind an Olympic sport.” China “already has been gunning for the 2016 Olympics, but Feng’s victory could shift the nation's efforts into overdrive” (GOLFWEEK.com, 6/10). Meanwhile, ESPNW.com’s Mechelle Voepel wrote the LPGA is “more international than ever,” yet one American “in particular, Stacy Lewis, is establishing herself as a regular contender.” This past weekend’s LPGA Championship had “what's become a standard for most events on the tour: a multinational leaderboard every day” (ESPNW.com, 6/11).

GLOBAL APPEAL: Golfer Steve Flesch said of Feng’s win, "It's going to be an impetus for more people in China to play golf.” Golf Channel’s Charlie Rymer said, “Not only it does a lot for golf in China, but golf in a broader sense in Asia.” He added it “won’t be long before the LPGA is visiting China, no doubt that that’s coming at some point in the future.” Golf World Exec Editor Ron Sirak: “Shanshan’s victory along with the fact golf’s returning to the Olympics in 2016 is going to be a big stimulus for the game in China” (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 6/11).