China's female golf prodigy Feng Shanshan can't wait for her new life on the LPGA tour.

The 18-year-old is counting down the days until February when she'll get to tee off in the world's most prestigious women's tour.

"After a year of training and competition in the US, I know much more about the golf culture there," said Feng, who qualified for the LPGA tour only a fortnight before the Orient China Ladies Open last weekend, where she finished tied for seventh place.

"It (the tour) is totally different from what it is in China. For me, I am feeling very good about competing in the US. I also want to show my personality in front of fans and the public."

Brimming with self-confidence, Feng showed rapid improvement - both in golf and in English - after less than a year training and studying at the International Junior Golf Academy (IJGA) in South Carolina. She was the first student-athlete from China to enroll at IJGA.

She finished tied for ninth with a 5-under par 355 (72-72-70-71-70) at the LPGA Final Qualifying School at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida, earlier this month, earning her exempt status on the 2008 LPGA Tour, meaning she will be able to play in as many as 25 tournaments throughout the year. She is the first woman from China to earn such status on the LPGA.

"It's a big surprise and thrill for me. I did not expect to make it so quickly," said Feng, one of only two amateurs to earn the LPGA exempt card for the 2008 season.

Feng, or "Jenny" as she is known at the academy, said how important living and competing within the culture of the US is for the success of a Chinese or any Asian player.

"You must get involved and be friends with the players," she said. "Americans have the nature to show their personalities, like someone wearing all red while playing golf. It's very important to show your personality under the spotlight. It means you are open-minded to fans and media. You must be liked by them."

Feng's agent Jay Chang, CEO and president of Beijing HS Management Group, said he is glad to see a player like Feng bring her naturally noble attributes to the LPGA.

"She is confident but not arrogant. She is disciplined and independent. She is humble and always shows respect to other players," said Chang, who brought Feng to IJGA and has managed her career. "She's unusual because Chinese and Asian people tend to be shy and quiet. She is a treasure for China."

Chang said Feng's experiences at IJGA and in competition in America's amateur tournaments have polished Feng's personality, and helped make her more "American".

"She still had very good characteristics before she went to America," he said. "The American culture just helped her to be more open-minded and more confident. More importantly, she's still young so she does not know the pressures a Chinese person usually has to endure."

Chinese pioneers

Feng said Chinese pioneers on the world golf stage like Zhang Na - who had a sparkling JLPGA debut season in 2007 with four wins - motivate her to take the next step.

"I remember I competed in a stage of JLPGA three years ago and I finished first from the bottom. Zhang's success there is an encouragement and motivation to me.

"I hope I can play competitive golf in the first year of LPGA. I am still young and I will take it step by step."

The talented teenager started playing golf eight years ago and quickly became the nation's best amateur golfer. Prior to arriving in the US, Feng won the China Amateur Tournament three times as well as winning the China Youth Championship.

Feng soon became the first junior golfer from China to play in the US Women's Open. She also advanced to match play at both the US Girls Junior Championship and the US Women's Amateur Public Links Championship and went on to post four wins on the International Junior Golf Tour.

She says one of her most influential coaches was Gary Gilchris, who was one of teen golfing sensation Michelle Wie's first instructors.

"Gary helped me a lot with my swing. I changed instructors after he left IJGA and I had bad performances. Now I have picked up the previous way again and I still keep close contact with Gary."

Feng is the fourth IJGA alum to play on the LPGA Tour. Last year, South Koreans Kim Song-hee, Kim In-kyung and Choi Hye-jung all earned their professional cards.

She is now hoping Zhang will join her on the tour so they can play side-by-side, like the South Koreans who have been dominant forces in the LPGA for a while.

"I hope that day will come as soon as possible. It's totally different when you have a fellow backing you up in the same tournament," she said.

More than anything, Feng is excited about the chance to improve her skills:

"These tournaments are big challenges and also precious chances to polish myself."

(China Daily December 20, 2007)