PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. — It’s not unusual for a college kid to be busy. After all, balancing schoolwork, social activities and often a part-time job is a tall order, even for the most organized individuals.
But when you’re a full-time student and a full-time professional athlete, well, that’s a whole other story. Just ask Rose Zhang.
The 2023 Mizuho Americas Open winner has played in just one event so far this season, finishing in a tie for seventh at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions before taking a nearly two-month-long break to continue her studies at Stanford University as she pursues a degree in communications.
It hasn’t been all work and no play though, as Zhang got the opportunity to tee it up alongside Lexi Thompson, Max Homa and Rory McIlroy in Capital One’s The Match on February 26, which was the first time that the made-for-TV event had featured women since its inception in 2018. And while she’s done nearly everything that a player could at this point in her young career – win at Augusta National Golf Club, capture an LPGA Tour victory, play on a United States Solheim Cup team – The Match was a brand-new experience for the 20-year-old, one that she recognizes the value of on a bigger scale.
“It was incredible. Definitely outside of my comfort zone,” said Zhang. “I was able to have a good time learning from Rory, Max, Lexi, and the entire time, I felt like it was a whirlwind because not only were there a lot of crowds there, but night golf is something I've never really done before.
“When Charles Barkley is in your ear, it's a little bit different. I've got 10 voices in my ear going back and forth about random things. I had to be tested in that area, but at the same time, I got such good feedback, and it was such an honor to be a part of that development of women's golf. Now LPGA is a little bit more on the map, not just because of me, but I'm very thankful that I was able to have that platform.”
But just because she wasn’t playing uber-competitive professional golf during her brief sabbatical doesn’t mean that Zhang was taking a vacation. Getting an Ivy League education is serious business, and the Irvine, Calif. native spent the last couple of months grinding in the classroom instead of the driving range, writing 10-plus papers and taking exams, something she even had to do this week as she wrapped up her Winter Quarter.
And while it’s been a challenging time, to say the least, one that’s required a lot of discipline and tenacity from the young talent, Zhang knows just how critical this point in her life is to her overall success, not just as a golfer but also as a human being.
“It’s been very fulfilling. I feel like I've been able to have a lot of closer relationships with my non-golf friends, and I've been having a good time there,” Zhang said. “But as for the lack of sleep and the constant grinding in school, it definitely hasn't been easy. I would argue that it's tested me in ways that golf couldn't test me. But I'm very glad for the experience.”
Now, with her final exams complete, Zhang can once again focus on being an athlete and worry about blossoming in her first full season competing on the LPGA Tour. Because it’s her job to consistently perform at a high level, and because she holds herself to such high standards, golf will likely never feel like a total escape for Zhang and will never be a blissful, stress-free oasis in which she can forget about readings and problem sets and homework and just have fun. But she’s feeling grateful to be back out this week at Palos Verdes Golf Club, a venue with which she’s incredibly familiar, especially considering she won the Therese Hession Regional Challenge in 2023 as a Stanford Cardinal.
“Coming out here, I think it's important for me to understand that I'm now the professional golfer in my life,” said Zhang. “At least for me, I have high standards towards how I want to play, so I won't say it's an exact escape from what I want to accomplish and my obligations now as a Tour player, but I do think it is using a different part of my brain and testing myself in different ways. To some extent, it is nice to be a little bit away from school and not have to worry about exams.”
While the Mizuho Americas Open is still a few months away, the first anniversary of her jaw-dropping victory at Liberty National Golf Club is fast approaching, and it’s shocking to think just how quickly Zhang’s first year as a professional flew by. With an often jam-packed schedule full of tournaments, sponsor obligations, media availabilities and school work, the 2023 LPGA Tour rookie admits she hasn’t always been the best at stopping and smelling the roses or taking time to recognize all that she’s accomplished in the last year.
But it’s something the 20-year-old is working to improve upon – particularly leaning on advice she received from Stanford Women’s Golf Coach Anne Walker when she returned to Stanford for classes – as she settles in for another whirlwind season playing alongside the world’s top talent on the LPGA Tour.
“It's a little bit difficult to think about (the last year), especially when I do have so much on my plate,” said Zhang. “I do have people around me that have told me that, and when I am kind of in a rush to complete things and in a rush in life, they tell me to settle down. One person who really helped me in that area was Coach Walker when I was back at Stanford. She was just telling me that I needed to be a little more kind to myself and realize the big transition that I made from last year to this year.
“So, with that in mind, it's still something I'm working on. I do appreciate everyone who’s been involved in helping me with this transition. It's still ongoing in terms of how I am dealing with everything.”
"I did it!"@rosezhang can add trick shot master to her long resume thanks to @Tisha_Alyn! 🤪🤩 pic.twitter.com/bXQObuyUEJ
— LPGA (@LPGA) March 21, 2024
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