Feng leads Chinese charge at Buick LPGA in city
Print Edition
China No. 1 Feng Shanshan is back on home turf this week with extra motivation as her title sponsor stages its flagship event in Asia — the Buick LPGA Shanghai.
While the US$2.1 million tournament — co-sanctioned by the US LPGA and China LPGA Tours — is considered a new event, the Guangdong native is no stranger to the host venue, Shanghai Qizhong Garden Golf Club.
In 2015 and 2016 Feng won back-to-back when the Buick Championship was staged at the Dana Fry-designed layout in suburban Minhang District. The following year, she rose to world No. 1 in the Rolex World Ranking, the first Chinese ever to reach such heights.
Since losing her top ranking in April this year, the now world No. 9 said she hoped the good memories of Qizhong would help her this week. This year, she is winless with five top-10 finishes on the US LPGA Tour.
“It’s great to come back here. A lot of things remind me of the past, especially of the past two successful years. Of course that gives me a lot of confidence,” said the 29-year-old Feng.
“As a home player obviously a lot of people expect me to do well naturally, and I expect myself to do well. I am looking forward to that. On the other hand, I’m a little bit nervous. I will give it a best go.”
After winning 22 tournaments around the world since 2007, including a major championship at the 2012 LPGA Championship, Feng, winner of the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, said she expected more success in future.
“Everything really, every step I made, has really motivated me even more down the line. I really essentially want to better myself, improve myself, not just for pride, not just for ranking, not just for reputation, but really to better myself down the line. That’s my goal. I believe I have more space, more room for further improvement.”
Feng will have to be at the top of her game this week if she is to prevail against an impressive field. Among those teeing it up in Shanghai are Park Sung-hyun, Ariya Jutanugarn and Ryu So-yeon, the top three players in the Rolex World Rankings, as well as Canadian star Brooke Henderson and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, the former world No. 1.
The best young Chinese talents will also be prominent with 20 spots in the 81-player field, including four amateurs.
Among the more notable are Liu Yu, a US LPGA rookie who is currently 54th on the money list stateside, and Liu Ruixin, who won three times on the Symetra development tour this year.
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