Rose Zhang relishing the hype around first major as professional

Rose Zhang is embracing the challenge that comes with being the most talked about player in women’s golf.

Zhang has arrived at Baltusrol in New Jersey for the KPMG PGA Championship with the eyes of the golfing world watching ahead of her first ever major as a professional.

And no wonder.

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This is a phenomenon who, just nine days after entering the daunting pro ranks, won her first LPGA event at the Mizuho Americas Open.

The 20-year-old has long been known as one of the best amateur performers ever, besting Tiger Woods’ imperious college record with 12 victories in 20 starts at Stanford.

She is already being talked up by Team USA Stacy Lewis captain to make her Solheim Cup debut in September.

It is no surprise then, that the prodigy with a growing sponsorship portfolio already including the likes of Beats by Dre and Adidas is being compared to Woods in regards to the transformative impact she could have for the women’s game.

The whirlwind of Zhang’s rise to stardom is such that she was sitting final exams for her computer programming course just hours after becoming the first player to win on her LPGA debut since 1951.

It would be easy to feel overwhelmed after a chaotic few weeks in the media spotlight – but Zhang is relishing the noise.

“I think it’s a great challenge,” she said on Wednesday. “No matter what, I’ve been taught to never give up and always face your challenges, regardless of what happens.

Getting ready for her second tournament as a pro! 😤@rosezhang | @KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/6Ir7jnaD9T

— LPGA (@LPGA) June 20, 2023

“As long as you try, as long as you do your best to complete your responsibilities or do what you need to do, that’s kind of just how you should live life.

“Even with the bunch of interview requests and all the commotion happening, I’ve just been taking it in my stride, and I’m taking it all in.”

Zhang is already a history maker after claiming the $412,500 first prize for her dramatic play-off victory over the accomplished American Jennifer Kupcho in her first pro event three weeks ago.

There will be even more attention in her first PGA Championship, but she has proved she can already mix it with the best in major tournaments.

Zhang has competed in nine majors in total, with her best finish of T11 coming at the 2020 Chevron Championship, so she is certainly not perturbed about any added pressure as a pro this week.

Zhang added: “I feel like if anything, I’ve played major championships before as an amateur, and with that amateur status, I kept in mind, hey, I’m just going to go out here, have a learning experience, and it’s been turning out well for me.

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“I’ve played well in the major championships that I’ve competed in, but if anything, this week isn’t necessarily anything different. I would compare this week to other weeks, whether it’s in college golf or even last week at Mizuho.”

Zhang, who is being backed at odds as short of 14/1 in one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s history, is not one to focus on the expectations around her and is letting her golf do the talking.

But she knows that the famed Baltusrol layout, which has staged nine men’s majors, is set to prove a unique test after several practice rounds at the venue.

“I would say this golf course is very difficult,” she said. “It’s definitely a major championship type of golf course. I expected nothing less from it. The rough is high. Greens are firm and very quick.

“There’s a lot of undulation, so you’re going to have to be able to play the ball where you need to when you’re hitting into approach shots.

“I feel like green reading here is also especially difficult. There’s a lot of just hidden breaks. Sometimes I would putt like a 30-footer and I’ll probably about six feet off on the other side of the hole, and I would be super confused.

“Once you’re in the rough, that’s kind of a lay up and try to minimize your big numbers. Fairways, greens, all typical, and the course is long this week. I know rain is coming in and whatnot. That will definitely play another challenge.”

Zhang will tee it up in the headline grouping in the opening two rounds at Baltusrol alongside 11-time LPGA Tour winner Lexi Thompson and Australia’s Minjee Lee.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.