Sung Hyun Park’s reign at the top of the women’s world golf rankings lasted only briefly. Just one week after the South Korean became the first LPGA Tour rookie to reach number one, Shanshan Feng won the Blue Bay LPGA (her second consecutive victory on the tour) to overtake her on the Rolex list.
The win at the Jian Lake Blue Bay course in Hainan Island enabled her to become the first golfer – male or female – from China to ascend to the top of golf’s world rankings.
“I'm really, really excited and very proud of myself and I think it's special because I won this tournament to become world number one. I finished first in China, so I actually claimed the world number one in front of all the people at home. I'm really happy about that, and I hope all the Chinese are going to be watching me and the Chinese can play golf. Hopefully there will be more Chinese getting on the tours and more world number ones coming up from China. I just want 2017 keep going. A never-ending 2017, that would be great.”
Feng (28) is the 12th player to top the rankings since their launch in 2006, representing nine different countries. Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) was the first player followed (for varying periods) by Lorena Ochoa (Mexico), Shin, Ai Miyazato (Japan), Cristie Kerr (United States), Yani Tseng (Taiwan), Stacy Lewis (United States), Inbee Park (South Korea), Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand), So Yeon Ryu (South Koraa) and Sung Hyun Park.
