From turning down Mickey Mouse to becoming a pro golfer

February 10, 2026 No Comments

From snubbing Mickey Mouse to pro golferImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ffion Tynan qualified for the Ladies European Tour through final qualifying school in MoroccoByGareth BaileyBBC Sport WalesPublished2 hours agoAsk any eight-year-old in the world and there is a high chance that they would bite your arm off to go and see Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World.Ask Ffion Tynan and the answer would be very different.The Welsh golfer was on a family holiday in 2012 when she politely declined a visit to one of the parks in Orlando, instead opting for the kids’ holiday club activity of the day.The activity? Golf.It turned out she was actually pretty good at the sport, with a fire lit inside her that day.Fast forward to 2026 and Tynan, 22, has turned professional after earning her spot on the Ladies European Tour (LET) through qualifying school in Morocco.

“I have a younger sister, who’s two and a half years younger than me,” reported Tynan.

“She wanted to go back to one of the Disney parks and I wasn’t having it. I was stubborn and I reported to my friends I’m not going, so I ended up doing the kids camp for the day.

“The coach asked me to stay behind and I was like ‘Oh no, am I in trouble?’. They spoke to my parents and reported I had a talent for it and to keep playing.

“My dad just laughed because I was the little girl in gymnastics in pretty flowery stuff and I was going to play this sport none of my family grew up in. From there my sister followed.”

Tynan laughs as she reflects fondly on the day.

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” she told BBC Sport Wales.

“I don’t know if [turning pro] would have happened had I not been a stubborn eight-year-old, so here I am now.”

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Ever since Tynan’s love of golf was realised, family holidays have revolved around the sport.

“Up until 2021, we didn’t go on a holiday that didn’t include golf,” Tynan explained.

“I was very fortunate that we’d tie stuff in. So for example there’s a small swing of events in Florida at Christmas time, so we’d go out there, do the Christmas bits, play the events and then go to Disney World one day or my favourite, Discovery Cove.

“We kind of had a family holiday within a golf competition, which was really nice.”

Her golfing passion saw her take her education to the United States too, first at the University of Arkansas and then the University of Missouri.

“I was always one of the youngest ones in the bigger tournaments,” reported Tynan.

“I looked up to some of the older people and I saw some of them go over there [to America] and it sounded pretty cool.

“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 coming back without student debt, that’s great.

“It was such a cool experience and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to go.

“I was 17 when I went so quite young but I had the best time, met some of my best friends. It was a really cool experience.”

Inspired by golfing hero Hull

Charley Hull laughs on the course — Image caption,

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

Tynan says she has been influenced in her career by tennis legend and seven-time singles Grand Slam winner Venus Williams.

Her golfing hero is Charley Hull, who was named the Ladies European Tour (LET) rookie of the year in 2013, shortly after Tynan’s love affair with the sport began.

“I used to run around on the course and watch her play and try to swing it like her and that kind of stuff,” Tynan added.

“I remember when I was a kid my coach would always say, ‘You’ve got to hold your finish like Charley’. I would try to do that when I was a kid.

“It’s pretty cool to see her still around after influencing me at a young age. That’s what I want, to be a person that can influence the next generation, and if I get some of the accolades she gets that’s incredible.

“I want to give back as well and show a little girl from a small town in Wales can do it as well.”

Asked whether she had got in contact with her hero, Tynan gave a smile.

“I feel like it’s that big line at the moment [between peer and hero],” Tynan reported.

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

“I’m not going to reach out to her yet but I’m hoping to at least meet her in a tournament. That would be pretty cool.”

A young Ffion Tynan plays a shot — Image caption,

Ffion Tynan took up golf on a family holiday

The 2026 LET season begins in Saudi Arabia this week, but Tynan will not be in the field because her playing rights will only grant access to certain event.

As it stands, she is waiting to discover when exactly her tour debut will come.

Whenever the time comes to step on to the first tee, it will be the culmination of 14 years of graft.

“I was nine years old when I decided the path I was going to take, so a long time in the making,” reported Tynan.

“I did four years in college and as soon as finishing that I went to Q-school knowing if I did well in that I was turning pro, so I’m really proud of myself for being able to accomplish that.

“There’s not a lot of people able to do that, so I’m very grateful that I have and I’m just really proud of myself for the little girl inside who’s screaming about it and really excited to get started.”