Top ranked Chinese golfer Shanshan Feng is hopeful the inclusion of golf in the Olympics will change the elitist perception of golf in in her homeland.Golf is returning to the Olympic programme in Rio this summer after a 112-year gap, and Feng believes the opportunity of a medal will have a positive impact on a sport which has suffered several bans in the past two decades.The sport was added to Chinas anti-corruption list last October when the countrys Communist Party banned their members from playing it in part of a corruption crackdown that also included lavish gift-giving. That was just one of several clashes golf has had with Chinas political leaders. In 2004, the government made it illegal to build golf courses without their consent in a bid to protect land and water.Despite the rule, hundreds of illegal courses were built, but in a nationwide crackdown Chinese authorities closed 66 in a single week last March in a bid to drive down participation. As a result, until 26-year-old Feng broke into the worlds top 10, Chinese golfers rarely figured on leaderboards or among those near the head of the rankings. Shanshan Feng won Chinas only major when she won LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club in 2012 I think its going to make a big difference if somebody is going to do well in Rio, she said at the HSBC Womens Champions in Singapore.Most of the people in China maybe still dont know about golf because it has got a lot of negative images in their heads. But I think everything is going to change after they see that golf is in the Olympics and its the same as the other sports.Golfers can bring the country the gold medals which they really love. Even though they dont play it themselves, theyll watch on TV, I think thats enough, Liang Wen-Chong is Chinas highest ranked male golfer at 171st in the world Feng became Chinas first and only major champion when she lifted the 2012 LPGA Championship and is one of only two Chinese golfers - along with 43rd-ranked Lin Xiyu - in the worlds top 100.My goal was to at least get into the Olympics and I think Im fine with that goal now, she said. What I can focus on is to play my own game now and try to play well and I think everything will work out itself.To achieve a medal in Rio, China will heavily rely on their top female golfers, as the leading player in the mens list is Liang Wen-Chong at 171 with Wu Ashun (185) and Haotong Li (215) the only other two in the top 400.Also See:OpinionGolf on Sky Sports 4ScheduleJim Bottomley Jersey . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. 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Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists.Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss legislation from John McCain, the Jays handling of Ricky Romero, the career of Sir Alex Ferguson and bizarre outing of Rays pitcher Alex Cobb. Dave Naylor, TSN Radio 1050: My thumb is up to Arizona senator John McCain, who has introduced legislation to say that if an NFL team gets taxpayer funding for its stadium, it shouldnt be allowed to black out games. McCain may be on the wrong side of the issue when it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes, but I believe hes on the right side with this one. There are two downsides to taxpayer funding: its a bad investment but its also insulting when, after picking the pockets of taxpayers, you say they cant even watch the games if they dont buy tickets. I dont often line up with Republican senators but with this one, I am with John McCain. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to the Toronto Blue Jays for their handling of Ricky Romero. A year ago this time, this was the No. 1 starter on the Blue Jays. Last year, rather than send him to the minors or the bullpen, they kept pitching him. He lost his confidence, he lost his way and it hasnt come back since. After a disastrous spring and an attempt to rebuild him, they brought him back for one start and it didnt work. Saturday night in Buffalo, Roomero pitched 3.dddddddddddd2 innings and gave up 10 hits and six runs. We dont know if well ever see Ricky Romero in the Major Leagues again. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is up to Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United, who closed his career at Old Trafford on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Swansea. What a career. In 26 years at Man U, he won 13 Premier League titles, two in the Champions League, five FA Cups and, of course, the treble in 1999. Maybe there has never been a greater coach of any sport at any time than Sir Alex. Scotty Bowman was smart enough to adapt to the times. Sir Alex was someone who bent the times to his own will. Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is up to Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Cobb for giving us one of those great "how could it happen" baseball teasers. Its all part of Cobbs bizarre Friday night outing against San Diego in which he recorded 13 strikeouts and didnt make it out of the 5th inning… because his pitch count was so high. The 3rd inning was the crazy one - Cobb struck out 4 Padres - a wild pitch third strike put a runner on first, and that runner stole second and third and then scored on a balk. Thats how a pitcher gives up a run despite striking out the side, plus one, and not allowing a hit or a walk, and without an error being committed. So now you know… ' ' '