Shanshan Feng

Early life, family and early golf development

Feng was born in Guangzhou, in the province of Guangdong, and started playing golf at age 10 at the urging of her father, Feng Xiong, who worked at the golf association in their hometown.

Due to limited resources and a lack of reputable golf coaches, Feng's father, who was the captain of a junior golf team, worked with her every day. During the week, Feng would attend school from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then her father would bring her to the driving range where she would practice for two hours hitting golf balls off a mat. On the weekends, she travelled outside of the city to a local course to play practice rounds and work on her short game.

When Feng was in high school an agent discovered her, at a tournament in China, and this led to her meeting coach Gary Gilchrist. When Feng was 17 years old, Gilchrist offered her a full scholarship to attend his junior golf academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Feng accepted the offer and moved to the U.S. hoping to become a professional golfer. Despite the scholarship to Gilchrist's academy, living expenses, tuition at a nearby high school, and traveling costs became heavy financial burdens on her parents, Feng Xiong and Zheng Yuyan, who both work at governmental institutes and earn average salaries. Feng's parents had spent almost all of their savings by the end of 2007, and they considered mortgaging their house to support their daughter. However, the family support paid off in December 2007 when Feng, a teenager amateur, earned a spot on the LPGA Tour's 2008 season after tying for ninth place at the Tour's qualifying tournament.

Amateur career

Feng won the China Junior Championship and the China Junior Open in 2004. She was a three-time winner of the China Amateur Tournament (2004–06). She was the Champion of the 2006 China Women's Amateur Open. A member of the 2006 All-China Championship Team, she earned a medalist honors at the event. In 2007 she was named Golfweeks's Top Chinese Amateur after winning four tournaments on the International Junior Golf Tour (IIGT) in 2007.

While still an amateur, Feng tied for ninth at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament in December 2007 to earn a spot on the LPGA Tour in 2008.

Professional wins (23)

LPGA Tour wins (10)

^ Co-sanctioned with the LPGA of Japan Tour

LPGA Tour playoff record (0–3)

LPGA of Japan Tour wins (7)

^ Co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour

Ladies European Tour wins (7)

Ladies European Tour playoff record (1–0)

Other wins (1)

• 2012 World Ladies Championship (team event with Liying Ye)

Major championships

Wins (1)

Results timeline

Results not in chronological order before 2019.

CUT = missed the half-way cut

NT = no tournament

"T" = tied

Summary

• Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (2013 Kraft Nabisco – 2015 WPC)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 4 (2014 British – 2015 ANA)

Olympics medals (1)

Singles: 1 (1 bronze medal)

LPGA Tour career summary

• official through 2021 season

World ranking

Position in Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of each calendar year.

Team appearances

Amateur

• Espirito Santo Trophy (representing China): 2004

Professional

• International Crown (representing China): 2016

References

References

1. "Gary Gilchrist on Growth of China's Future Golfers". The A Position.
2. (11 June 2012). "Shanshan Feng". BBC News.
3. http://tucsoncitizen.com/usa-today-sports/2012/06/10/shanshan-feng-wins-a-major-for-china/{{dead link. (May 2018)
4. Mell, Randall. (10 June 2012). "Feng win could inspire Chinese girls". Golf Channel.
5. Voepel, Michael. (11 June 2012). "Shanshan Feng becomes first winner from China". ESPN W.
6. DiMeglio, Steve. (10 June 2012). "Shanshan Feng claims China's first major title in golf". USA Today.
7. (11 June 2012). "Women's World Golf Rankings". Rolex Rankings.
8. Porter, Kyle. (20 August 2016). "2016 Rio Olympic golf: Park, Ko take medals as Americans just miss bronze". CBS Sports.
9. (13 November 2017). "Women's World Golf Rankings". Rolex Rankings.
10. Rogers, Amy. (2022-08-02). "Former world No. 1 Shanshan Feng announces retirement from LPGA". Golf Channel.
11. Eubanks, Steve. (2022-08-02). "Shanshan Feng Bids A Fond Farewell To Fans Everywhere". LPGA.
12. Nichols, Beth Ann. (2022-08-09). "Celebrating a newly-retired Shanshan Feng, the pioneering Chinese player who broke barriers with humor and one-of-a-kind style".
13. Levins, Keely. (2022-08-01). "Former World No. 1 Shanshan Feng, first Chinese LPGA Tour player, announces retirement".
14. "Guangzhou Sports Officials visit Seattle in September 2011". Washington Cultural Exchange.
15. (16 June 2011). "Get to Know Shanshan Feng". LPGA.
16. "Shanshan Feng Bio". LPGA.
17. Golf Channel television interview with Feng upon winning the 2012 LPGA Championship on 10 June 2012
18. "Feng Shanshan, China's first golf number one and 'guinea pig'". Hong Kong Free Press.
19. (10 July 2017). "China's Shanshan Feng does things her way". ESPN.
20. "Feng Shanshan's driving ambition". China Daily.
21. "Shanshan Feng Bio". LPGA.
22. (December 2, 2007). "Final Qualifying Tournament Results 2007". LPGA.
23. "Shanshan Feng results". LPGA.
24. (26 December 2006). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
25. (25 December 2007). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
26. (30 December 2008). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
27. (29 December 2009). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
28. (28 December 2010). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
29. (27 December 2011). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
30. (31 December 2012). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
31. (30 December 2013). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
32. (29 December 2014). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
33. (28 December 2015). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
34. (26 December 2016). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
35. (25 December 2017). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
36. (31 December 2018). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
37. (30 December 2019). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
38. (28 December 2020). "Women's World Golf Rankings".
39. (27 December 2021). "Women's World Golf Rankings".