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China's golf queen
Feng Shanshan, who inspired a generation to take up golf in China, aims for another Olympic medal in Tokyo


A
ugust 21, 2016 was memorable for a lot of Chinese sports fans. Their women's volleyball team beat Serbia 3-1 to reap the glory of a gold medal during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The same day, Feng Shanshan, a 27-year-old Chinese girl, also made headlines and became an idol after winning a bronze medal in golf. This was China's first Olympic medal in the sport that staged a comeback to the Games after a 112-year absence.

The Olympic medal is just one of the many victories for Feng. She was the first golfer from the Chinese mainland to claim titles in Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) major championships in the US, and topped the Women's World Golf Rankings from November 2017 to April.

Her success has inspired many young Chinese to pursue a dream in golf over the past few years. According to the Five-Year Development Plans of Junior Golf in China (2018-22) released by the China Golf Association, the number of registered young golfers has increased from 400 in 2013 to 34,572 in 2017.

"Since the Rio Olympics, many Chinese have changed their stereotypes and bias against golf," said Feng. "Golf is now an Olympic game — just the same as other games in which athletes can compete for glory for their country."

National treasure Shan

In July, Feng flew back to China from her LPGA tours to participate in the 2018 Asiana Airlines Open at the Weihai Point Hotel and Golf Resort in Shandong Province. It was her first domestic competition of the year.

Feng's presence in Weihai drew many golf fans to the game. She was patient when asked to take photos or signatures. For years, Feng's openness, sense of humor and positivity have made her an agreeable idol, who is nicknamed "national treasure Shan."

She has become an international sensation as well. In the recent Excellence in Sports Yearly (ESPY) awards that honor the best of the sporting world, she was a nominee for best female golfer, becoming the third nominee from the Chinese mainland in the awards' history after former NBA player Yao Ming and tennis star Li Na.

"It is an affirmation of my 10-year professional career," she said.

A girl born into a middle-class family, Feng was able to take up golf thanks to her father, who was among the earlier promoters of the game in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Feng joined the Guangzhou junior golf team at the age of 10. When she was a high-school student at one of the best middle schools in Guangdong, she was given a full scholarship admission to International Junior Golf Academy (IJGA), a renowned junior golf academy in the US. At 18 she turned professional after passing the qualification to play in the LPGA tour.

With almost 10 sponsorship contracts, Feng is among the Chinese athletes with the highest commercial value.

Team China captain

July also marked the start for the qualification period to gain ranking points for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and Feng said she has been gearing up for her second Olympic challenge.

"I have a bronze medal and I am eying the gold," she said.

In September 2017, China's national golf team for the Olympics was founded, soon after the China Golf Association, the sport's governing body, began its reform. The reform has promoted the implementation of new polices that aim at enhancing training and preparation for the Olympics.

The national team provides key players like Feng with special supportive services such as tailor-made training schemes, coaches and high-tech training facilities, all based on individuals' personalized needs.

The national team's support is an important supplement to golfers. Unlike other sports, such as table tennis or gymnastics, which are funded by the government, most of China's golfers train and participate in tours spending their family's money or the funds from sponsors.

In the nine-member squad of the women's team, Feng is the captain.

Talking about China's chance to win in Tokyo, Feng said China's golf has advanced, and the average level of golfers has increased as a growing number of players are taking part in tours overseas. Meanwhile, compared with Rio, Tokyo is closer to China, and many Chinese players are experienced in competing in Japan. All these factors help.

"However, it doesn't mean that the chance of success in Tokyo will be higher," she added. "Players from other countries have also made progress. It's hard to say," she said.

For Feng, playing at the Olympic Games gives her fresh and unique experiences which she will cherish.

"A tour year consists of about 30 tournaments, and I would play about 20, which means I have about 100 opportunities to win every four years. You can also adjust yourself if you don't play well in one or two games," she said. "But the Olympic Games are held every four years, and if you can't win you fail. The tolerance rate for mistakes is much lower."  

The world's No. 1

In the 2018 Asiana Airlines Open, which boasted some of the best golfers from the Korean Ladies Professional Association (KLPGA) and Chinese Ladies Professional Association (CLPGA), Feng ranked the 14th, the best result for a Chinese player.

"I made birdies at the end of the game but they came too late," she said, reckoning her problem in the game was in her strokes rather than putts.

"Bad strokes led to lower chances for birdies," she said. "I need to spend some time to get my stroke back."

Until a few months ago, Feng was ranked number one. She has fallen to sixth.

"My performance of the first half of 2018 might have not met the expectations of many," she said. "But if you review my yearly performance in the past, you will find out I am a person who is slow to get to the best performances each year."

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