From Disney to the Ladies European Tour: Ffion Tynan’s Pro Dream

Ffion Tynan’s journey to the professional golf ranks didn’t begin on a driving range or golf course — it started with a snub to Mickey Mouse.

While on a 2012 family trip to Orlando, the then 8-year-old Welsh golfer opted out of visiting Disney World to attend a kids’ golf camp. That decision sparked a passion that has now led her to turn professional, earning a spot on the 2026 Ladies European Tour (LET) after success at qualifying school in Morocco.

“I don’t know if turning pro would have happened had I not been a stubborn eight-year-old,” Tynan told BBC Sport Wales, laughing.

U.S. College Golf & Family Dedication

Charley Hull finished tied for second at the 2025 Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl

Tynan’s journey included a move to the U.S., where she played collegiate golf at the University of Arkansas and later the University of Missouri. She emphasized how education and sport went hand-in-hand:

“My mum’s a teacher, so I was definitely getting a degree. To be able to do both [play golf and study] on a scholarship and come back without student debt, that’s great.”

Throughout her youth, family holidays revolved around golf, with tournaments regularly built into Christmas trips to Florida.

Inspired by Charley Hull & Venus Williams

Ffion Tynan took up golf on a family holiday

Tynan cites Venus Williams as a broader sporting influence, but Charley Hull remains her golfing idol.

“I used to run around on the course and watch her play… My coach would always say, ‘You’ve got to hold your finish like Charley.’”

Now 22, Tynan dreams of one day competing alongside Hull on the LET — a full-circle moment she hopes will come true.

“Maybe I’ll get lucky enough to play with her in a major — that would be pretty awesome.”

Looking Ahead to Pro Debut

Although Tynan won’t feature in this week’s LET season opener in Saudi Arabia, she’s preparing for her upcoming debut — her playing rights grant entry to selected events this season.

“I was nine years old when I decided the path I was going to take,” she said. “So this has been a long time in the making.”

Now ready to inspire others from her hometown in Wales, Tynan hopes to one day influence the next generation, just as Hull once inspired her.

“I want to show a little girl from a small town in Wales can do it too.”