Paris Olympics: golfer Shannon Tan makes history for Singapore, secures spot at Games
- Tan will be first golfer from the Lion City to play at a Games, while Amy Yang will represent South Korea after winning her first major
Shannon Tan will make history at the Paris Olympics, when she becomes the first golfer from Singapore to compete at a Games.
The 20-year-old, who is ranked 181 in the world, will be among the 60 women to play at Le Golf National from August 7 to 10. The course will host the men’s competition the week before, and was also the venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Tan has enjoyed a stellar season since turning professional in February, winning the Magical Kenya Ladies Open on her debut on the Ladies European Tour less than a month later.
She followed up that breakthrough with four top-15 finishes including a tied-third result at the Ladies Italian Open a fortnight ago.
“Like any other sports fan, I have watched the Olympics since I was very young,” Tan said. “Seeing the efforts that the athletes put in for their country is something that is mind-blowing.
“For sure you could feel the burden of that pressure, but I honestly believe it is a great honour and opportunity to be the first Singaporean to compete in golf at the Olympic Games. I am looking forward to flying the flag for Singapore.”
Tan Chong Huat, the Singapore Golf Association president, hailed the player’s “immense talent” and said the city’s golf community was “beyond thrilled that Shannon is going to be our first golf Olympian when the golf competition starts in August”.
The women’s qualification period ended on Tuesday, and there were some late changes to teams, most notably for South Korea, after Amy Yang did more than just win the first major of her career on Sunday.
Victory in the Women’s PGA Championship earned her spot at the Games, while Japan’s Miyu Yamashita leapt past countrywomen Ayaka Furue and Nasa Hataoka with her runner-up finish at Sahalee Country Club.
World No 1 Nelly Korda is the defending gold medallist and one of three representatives from the United States. The others are second-ranked Lilia Vu and No 9 Rose Zhang.
Women’s Olympic field (by world ranking): USA: Nelly Korda (1), Lilia Vu (2), Rose Zhang (9). South Korea: Jin Young Ko (3), Amy Yang (5), Hyo-Joo Kim (13). China: Ruoning Yin (4), Xiyu Lin (15). France: Celine Boutier (6), Perrine Delacour (75). Australia: Hannah Green (7), Minjee Lee (11). Great Britain: Charley Hull (8), Georgia Hall (36). Japan: Yuka Saso (10), Miyu Yamashita (19). Thailand: Atthaya Thitikul (12), Patty Tavatanakit (25). Canada: Brooke M. Henderson (14), Alena Sharp (292). New Zealand: Lydia Ko (17), Momoka Kobori (293). Sweden: Maja Stark (21), Linn Grant (26). Spain: Carlota Ciganda (30), Azahara Munoz (109). Ireland: Leona Maguire (32), Stephanie Meadow (134). South Africa: Ashleigh Buhai (41), Paula Reto (196). India: Aditi Ashok (60), Diksha Dagar (167). Mexico: Gaby Lopez (62), Maria Fassi (186). Germany: Esther Henseleit (64), Alexandra Forsterling (69). Switzerland: Albane Valenzuela (70), Morgane Metraux (127). Denmark: Emily Kristine Pedersen (87), Nanna Koerstz Madsen (106). Taiwan: Peiyun Chien (88), Wei-Ling Hsu (161). Netherlands: Anne van Dam (108), Dewi Weber (302). Philippines: Bianca Pagdanganan (113), Dottie Ardina (298). Belgium: Manon de Roey (154). Austria: Emma Spitz (178). Singapore: Shannon Tan (181). Norway: Celine Borge (187), Madelene Stavnar (307). Czech Republic: Klara Davidson Spilkova (192), Sara Kouskova (290). Colombia: Mariajo Uribe (198). Italy: Alessandra Fanali (211). Malaysia: Ashley Lau (279). Finland: Ursula Wikstrom (286), Noora Komulainen (301). Slovakia: Ana Belac (288). Morocco: Ines Laklalech (321).
