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."