CLPGA forum brings female golfers forward

Gao Zhidan, director of the General Administration of Sports of China (GASC), has praised the Chinese golf program for winning its second bronze medal at the recent Paris Olympics. The announcement was made during a forum held on the sidelines of the FILA GOLF Women’s Classic this week.

Speaking at the “Women Create Her-story” forum ahead of the start of the China LPGA Tour event in Shanghai on Friday, Wei Qingfeng, secretary general of the China Golf Association (CGA), said that after the state leaders met the Chinese sports delegation, the board also held a summary meeting, which was also attended by the delegation from Paris.

There, Gao, who is also the president of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), praised the golf program for its “good performance” after Lin Xiyu won the bronze medal in women’s golf, matching Feng Shanshan’s feat at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Wei said preparations for the 2028 and 2032 Olympics were “already on the agenda” and that ultimately it would all come down to identifying and developing talent to participate in future Games.

“The association also coordinates various resources to provide athletes with a good starting point, especially in training, competition and daily life. For the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games, we hope to see the emergence of more young athletes,” Wei said.

“Now female players aged 15 and 16 have already shown promise, and these athletes, together with even younger athletes, will be the right age for the 2032 and even 2036 Olympic Games. The association will continue to provide a platform for teenagers and families who love golf, giving them the opportunity to excel.”

Wei said Chinese golf is now stronger after Feng, the former world No. 1, accepted a position to serve as a promotional ambassador for the China LPGA Tour. Her vast experience can be passed on and “more female players will pick up the baton to strive for China in golf.”

Feng, who was part of the forum panel with Brian Yiu, CEO of FILA China, Echo Ma, executive publisher of Golf Digest China, and Li Hong, CEO of the China LPGA Tour, said she had no problem retiring from competitive golf, knowing that there were many excellent young Chinese players to follow in her footsteps.

“I used to follow in the footsteps of my predecessors as a junior, learning their strengths and constantly improving myself. Now that I’m in that position, it’s satisfying to see the growth of the juniors,” said the Guangdong native, the first Chinese player to win a major title when she won the 2012 Women’s PGA Championship.

“The growth of players cannot be achieved without support from all sides. I am grateful to companies like FILA who are willing to support the development of women’s golf. I am very optimistic about the future development of female golfers in China.”

Li Hong, who has overseen the growth of the CLPGA Tour since the first tournaments were held in 2009, said the Tour’s aim has always been to provide a platform for the development of young players at the professional level, both in China and the region.

Over the years, countless players have used the CLPGA Tour as a springboard to develop their game so they could compete at the highest level. She cited Yin Ruoning, who won her first three professional starts on the CLPGA Tour as a teenager, as an example. Since then, the Shanghai native has won three times on the U.S. LPGA Tour, including the 2023 Women’s PGA Championship.

This year, 21-year-old Yin, a former world number 1, represented China with Lin Xiyu at the Olympic Games in Paris, where they finished tied for 10th place.

The theme of this week’s Women’s Classic is “beautiful heritage” and the winner’s trophy reflects that. Li said she was moved to hear the many stories about golf at the forum. She added that such heritage needs to be passed on.

“Today, there are more than 22 players from mainland China competing on the LPGA Tour, with three players from Japan and one from South Korea. After more than a decade of progress, Chinese women have achieved great success on the world stage,” Li said.

“We all know that Olympic qualification is linked to world ranking points. To participate in the Olympic Games, players have to participate in high-level events, most of which take place on the world stage.

“The road to golf requires a step-by-step development.”

Li thanked Yiu for FILA China’s long-standing partnership with golf, saying that sponsorship from such companies is essential to the success of the sport at both amateur and professional levels.

“This is not just about golf, it is also about fashion. It introduces a lifestyle that makes golf more popular and more widely accepted. This is also a reflection of how sport contributes to creating a better life.”

Yiu said FILA “has had a relationship with female golfers for over 40 years” and that the company felt it was now time to host its own tournament on the China LPGA Tour.

The event, with a tournament prize of 1.2 million yuan (US$168,438), will be played at the Yangtze Links Course of PGA Golf Club Anying on Chongming Island.

“About eight or nine years ago, FILA sponsored the Women’s World Cup of Golf,” Yiu said. “In elite sports, golf has always been very important and we feel this is a good time to launch our own event IP. This elite women’s tournament is our first step.”