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 taking fledgling 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.
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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 to challenge the best of the best and eventually write Chinese golf into the pages of sporting history.
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Nearly two decades later, the transformation has been profound. From Feng Shanshan’s trailblazing major victory in 2012, to the steady rise of top players such as Janet 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 bronze medals, women’s golf in China has certainly propelled to the forefront with great force.
At the heart of this rise has been the Women’s China Open. It is not just another stop on the calendar, it is the country’s national championship and the flagship event on the CLPG Tour, where every aspiring golfer dreams of joining their idols to attain world-class stature.
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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 how Korean superstars Jiyai Shin, Kim Hyo-joo 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 Feng, who has 22 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 include 2nd/2011, T3/2012, 4th/2016 and 3rd/2019.
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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 events like the Women’s China Open and the CLPG Tour 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.”
For Janet Lin Xiyu, who has taken a temporary leave of absence from the LPGA Tour for the arrival of her first child, the Women’s China Open was both a launching pad and a personal milestone. She became the first Chinese golfer to lift the trophy in 2019, an achievement she cherishes as much as her achievements abroad which include a podium finish at the Paris Olympic Games last summer.
“That achievement will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am proud to have contributed to the growth of our country’s golfing history,” said the 29-year-old lin, who owns seven CLPG Tour victories. “From the time I began competing, the Women’s China Open stood out as one of the most important tournaments on the calendar. It inspired me to push harder and strive for excellence. Like all great national Opens, it has played a pivotal role in developing women’s golf, providing a stage for Chinese players to challenge themselves.”
That sense of higher standards and bigger dreams has carried into the new generation. The 23-year-old Yin Ruoning, who has already captured a major championship and the World No. 1 ranking, treasures her formative experiences at the Women’s China Open where she finished tied fourth in 2018. “Competing in the Women’s China Open was always special to me,” said Yin, who is now ranked World No. 7 and holder of five LPGA victories. “The tournament has a different feel about it and there is extra motivation and pressure to perform well. As a junior golfer back then, I understood what the event meant to us and looking back, those experiences have been meaningful in my journey as a golfer.”
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For Ji Yuai, the 2024 champion by a tournament-record nine strokes, the Women’s China Open remains a proving ground that demands humility and hunger in equal measure. “This tournament is very meaningful to me. Winning the Women’s China Open last year was a special moment, but I know every year is a new challenge with a strong field. No matter the result, I want to make sure I compete with my full commitment.”
From the inaugural edition in Xiamen to this year’s groundbreaking move to Shanghai where the tournament, which is promoted by SPORTFIVE, will be played at Enhance Anting Golf Club from October 17-19, all eyes will be on the next wave of Chinese and regional aspiring stars. The local starlets include a group of amateurs such as 18-year-old Wang Zixuan, Xu Ying, 16, and 15-year-old Zhou Shiyuan– all who have won on the CLPG Tour this season.
Wang, who has enjoyed one win and three top-10s this season, is determined to follow in the footsteps of Feng, Yin Ruoning, Janet Lin Xiyu and Miranda Wang, who have put the spotlight on China women’s golf through their global achievements.
“The leading Chinese players are a tremendous source of inspiration,” said Wang. “I truly admire their mental strength under pressure and their resilience. Witnessing the success of top players reminds me that behind every achievement lies countless hours of tedious, grueling practice. This motivates me to devote myself even more wholeheartedly to the sport.”
The China LPG Tour has also provided opportunities for regional and aspiring golfers from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to sharpen their professional teeth, with the likes Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (Tha), Onkanok Soisuwan (Tha), Kan Bunnabodee (Tha), Jocelyn Chee (Mas), Amanda Tan (Sin) and Patricia Sinolungan (Ina) benefitting immensely. With Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul rising to World No. 1 recently, the importance of women’s golf growth across Asia-Pacific is not lost on many.
The upswing in fortunes is certainly testament the Women’s China Open is proving to be just the origin of greatness for women’s golf in the country, and region wide.
Note: The writer has formerly led the communications and marketing team on the PGA Tour and Asian Tour for a combined 25 years previously and now runs his own sports PR consulting firm.
