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Wednesday May 6, 2009

Chinese plan to emulate success of South Korean women

SINGAPORE: South Korean women have taken the golfing world by storm and now China want a slice of the action.

Koreans were multiple winners on the US LPGA Tour last season and their production line of hot, new talent shows no signs of slowing down.

Part of their success can be attributed to trailblazers like Park Se-ri paving the way, proving that Asian women can not only play in the United States but can also do well.

But it is also because they have a strong local tour— the Korea LPGA — that gives youngsters the opportunity to compete week in, week out and cultivate their skills before heading overseas to find fame and fortune.

Now China are getting in on the act, launching the inaugural China LPGA Tour next week with the Beijing Orient Pearl Championship.

It will be the first of seven tournaments this year in seven cities — Beijing, Yantai, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Kashi and Xiamen — with prize money ranging from US$50,000 to US$250,000.

China Golf Association secretary-general Zhang Xiaoning, the man who has distanced himself from the Asian Tour and thrown his hat in the ring with the new OneAsia Tour in the men’s game, is optimistic going forward.

“It’s a giant step forward for women’s golf in China,” he told state media.

“The establishment of the China LPGA tour means we now have our own professional tour like the US LPGA, Korea LPGA and Japan LPGA and will provide more competition chances for Chinese female golfers.”

The popularity of golf is exploding in China and the potential to find the world’s next superstar in a country of over one billion people is huge.

An estimated 300,000 golfers play at least once a week, and around five million tee off at least once every six months, according to officials.

But China only have one player on the US LPGA Tour in Feng Shanshan, who made her professional debut last year and posted five top-10 finishes, including a career-best runner-up at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic.

This is in sharp contrast to South Korea who boasts 47 players, including young talent such as Angela Park, Hee Ji-eun and Park Inbee.

Taiwan have five regular US LPGA players while Japan have four and Thailand three.

Among other Asian nations, India, Malaysia and the Philippines have one apiece. — AFP

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