Whether it’s a result of her success or not, Shanshan Feng’s happy to see the trend developing on the LPGA Tour over the last two years.
“Two [Chinese] rookies on the LPGA last year and two more rookies this year. So this year we have five Chinese girls on the LPGA,” Feng said. “The Chinese girls are doing well and other than me the other ofur are all below 20. But I still feel really happy because the first six years on the Tour I was by myself but now I’m one of five, so I’m really happy. So I hope in another five years there will be 20.”
If that develops, the entire country of China will know who Feng is. Right now she says she has the perfect level of fame, where golfers in China know who she is, but the average everyday person doesn’t.
She can still walk down the sidewalk or have dinner out and not be bothered. But if golf reaches the level of popularity she envisions and hopes for over the coming years, that could all change.
“I would be happy because if I become more famous, then it means golf is getting more popular so that’s the good thing. The bad thing is I’d lose my freedom,” Feng said.
More than fame or notoriety, though, Feng’s goal is simple: Surpass Inbee Park.
Do that and the rest will take care of itself. Feng’s already up to No. 4 in the world and has always set a goal of passing Inbee. Although Lydia Ko has now overtaken No. 1, her good friend Park set the gold standard in her mind years ago and she’s been chasing her pace ever since.
“It has always been Inbee for a while. My goal is still Inbee because I’ve never passed her,” Feng said.
“Two [Chinese] rookies on the LPGA last year and two more rookies this year. So this year we have five Chinese girls on the LPGA,” Feng said. “The Chinese girls are doing well and other than me the other ofur are all below 20. But I still feel really happy because the first six years on the Tour I was by myself but now I’m one of five, so I’m really happy. So I hope in another five years there will be 20.”
If that develops, the entire country of China will know who Feng is. Right now she says she has the perfect level of fame, where golfers in China know who she is, but the average everyday person doesn’t.
She can still walk down the sidewalk or have dinner out and not be bothered. But if golf reaches the level of popularity she envisions and hopes for over the coming years, that could all change.
“I would be happy because if I become more famous, then it means golf is getting more popular so that’s the good thing. The bad thing is I’d lose my freedom,” Feng said.
More than fame or notoriety, though, Feng’s goal is simple: Surpass Inbee Park.
Do that and the rest will take care of itself. Feng’s already up to No. 4 in the world and has always set a goal of passing Inbee. Although Lydia Ko has now overtaken No. 1, her good friend Park set the gold standard in her mind years ago and she’s been chasing her pace ever since.
“It has always been Inbee for a while. My goal is still Inbee because I’ve never passed her,” Feng said.
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