Top Five Chinese Golfers in History

Despite its vast size and huge population, China has produced fewer elite professional golfers than one might anticipate.

Nevertheless, several athletes have established themselves on the global circuit, highlighted by these five individuals…

Shanshan Feng

Shanshan Feng marked a milestone in Chinese golf by becoming the first player from mainland China to secure an LPGA Tour card and the first to claim an LPGA victory.

After failing to finish higher than 22nd in her prior 16 Major starts, she captured the 2012 LPGA Championship. Although she never added another Major title, she placed in the top 10 of one on 17 additional occasions.

During November 2017, she ascended to World No.1 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, holding that position for 23 weeks. She also secured the bronze medal in women’s golf at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Ruoning Yin

At the age of 16, Ruoning Yin contributed to the Chinese women’s team that claimed the bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games.

She secured victories in her first three events on the China LPGA Tour. In April 2023, she claimed the LA Open, becoming the second Chinese winner on the LPGA Tour, and in June of that year, she became the second Chinese woman to win a Major by triumphing at the Women’s PGA Championship at age 20. That September, she rose to women’s World No.1.

Haotong Li

Haotong Li observes one of his drives during the Irish Open of 2026(Image credit: Getty Images)

By securing the Order of Merit on the inaugural PGA Tour China, Haotong Li earned qualification for the web.com Tour (now the Korn Ferry Tour), becoming the first Chinese man to achieve this feat.

Competing in his home country at the inaugural Shenzhen International in 2015, he tied for the lead after 72 holes. However, he lost the playoff to Kiradech Aphibarnrat. T

he following year saw his first of four victories to date on the European Tour, when he won the co-sanctioned China Open. In 2018, utilizing four birdies in his final six holes, he defeated Rory McIlroy by one shot to win the Dubai Desert Classic.

This victory shifted his position from 60th to 32nd on the Official World Golf Ranking, marking the first time a man from China entered the top 50.

Wu Ashun

When Wu Ashun won the Toshin Golf Tournament in September 2012, he became the first golfer from China to win on the Japan Golf Tour.

His victory in the co-sanctioned China Open in 2015 made him the first Chinese golfer to win on home soil in a European Tour event. By winning the 2016 Lyoness Open, he became the first Chinese golfer to secure multiple titles on the European Tour. His win in last year’s China Open marked his fifth victory on the DP World Tour.

Lianwei Zhang receives congratulations from Ernie Els after winning the 2003 Caltex Singapore Masters(Image credit: Getty Images)

Lianwei Zhang

At the co-sanctioned 2003 Caltex Singapore Masters, Lianwei Zhang was part of the final group on the last day alongside World No. 2 Ernie Els, entering the day two shots behind the South African.

On the 72nd tee, Els held a one-shot advantage but drove into the trees, resulting in a bogey five. Zhang hit his approach to within 10 feet and sank the birdie putt to become the first Chinese golfer to win on the European Tour.

This victory, which was also his fifth of six wins on the Asian tour, moved him 45 spots up the world rankings to 96th. It also granted him an invitation to The Masters, making him the first player from mainland China to compete in the tournament. He joined the European Senior Tour in 2015 and won the Wales Senior Open the following year.

Honourable mention: Guan Tianlang

An honorable mention for pioneering achievements belongs to Guan Tianlang. At 14 years and five months old, he became the youngest man to make the cut in a Major championship.

By winning the 2012 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, he qualified for the 2013 Masters, where he finished 58th and led all amateurs. However, his career has not matched its early promise, and this remains his sole Major appearance. He currently competes on the China Tour, where his best result is 4th at the 2020 China Open.