There are lots of issues to admire about Rose Zhang. Earlier than turning professional two years in the past, she was arguably the winningest newbie within the historical past of ladies’s golf. Now she’s competing on the LPGA and already has a pair {of professional} wins at age 21. Zhang is as poised as they get and her youth — mixed with a swing that would make a robotic look inconsistent — has allowed her to turn into one of many faces of the sport’s Gen-Z motion.
Zhang is doing all of it whereas attending Stanford College as a communications main, taking 22 credit this winter (she completes one 10-week quarter every year to stability faculty with the worldwide LPGA schedule). As Zhang finishes her third-to-last quarter of lessons en path to a 2027 commencement date, she caught up with The Athletic to speak in regards to the state of the LPGA, her adjusted preseason sport plan and her new foray into golf’s simulator experiment. Zhang is now a minority investor in The Bay Golf Membership, TGL’s San Francisco workforce. Based on TGL, lively discussions are going down with the LPGA to plot competitions that would combine prime feminine gamers. With digital holes, gamers in a combined occasion might all hit from the identical tee packing containers with the know-how adjusting for acceptable distances. The prospect of that association is definitely attractive, and Zhang, for one, is intrigued by it.
This dialog has been edited for readability and size.
You’re the most recent investor in TGL. How did that come about?
I’d heard about it on social media, however I by no means actually thought of changing into an investor. My company introduced the chance to me. It’s low stakes for me as a result of I’m not the one taking part in on the market. It’s cool to be on the investing aspect of issues, this is without doubt one of the first issues I’ve invested in, within the golf world at the very least. The Bay Space has performed an enormous position in my life and profession. I’m a student-athlete at Stanford, I play lots of golf within the metropolis of SF and having the ability to be part of it in a extra significant approach was my first thought. To see different athletes like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala concerned makes it much more superb. It’s going to be cool to look at the workforce on TV and say, “Oh, I’ve slightly half in that!” Not likely … however I do. I’m invested in it emotionally too.
Have you ever watched a lot TGL?
I’ve, with the cool know-how and the indoor facility it provides an vitality that even non-golfers can take pleasure in. I feel it’s a very good platform to reveal completely different components of the sport, present folks’s personalities, and have slightly little bit of enjoyable. A few of my non-golf associates are like, “Oh, this factor is sort of a entire stadium and also you’re taking part in golf indoors? What does that even imply?” You’ve acquired all these loopy lights — it mainly turns right into a present. It’s a very good supply of leisure for individuals who aren’t uncovered to it. You don’t get to see golfers’ personalities as a result of we don’t discuss. The entertaining aspect of all of that is that gamers are mic’d up and get to work together with followers and one another. Individuals prefer to see competitors and camaraderie however some type of flare to every persona.
Ought to LPGA gamers be part of TGL?
I feel that’s a subject for dialogue. That will undoubtedly be very attention-grabbing. It brings lots of selection with the format that it’s — indoor golf, one vs. one or workforce vs. workforce. Having variety actually brings this form of platform to life. I can undoubtedly see the LPGA hopping on board with it, having particular gamers take part in a TGL occasion. I performed “The Match” with Rory McIlroy, Lexi Thompson and Max Homa. It’s just like that, however it’s inside and indoors so it’s honest play for everybody. I feel lots of people don’t perceive, there are lots of characters on the market on the LPGA Tour. You’ve acquired lots of people with personalities which might be so suited to any such format.
Who ought to TGL recruit from the LPGA?
We’re speaking about well-liked characters right here. To begin off, for my part, I’d like to see Meghan Khang hop on there. She is aware of how you can discuss, that’s for certain. Charley Hull is a world famend title, it’d be actually entertaining to see what she does. If you’d like actually good gamers, you’ve acquired Lydia Ko, you’ve acquired Nelly Korda.
A spotlight of Zhang’s 2024 was her look on a successful Solheim Cup workforce. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Pictures)
You made your season debut on the HGV Match of Champions and posted at T10 end, however we all know that was only a break out of your winter research at Stanford. How has your offseason been treating you?
It’s been much more educational than precise golf. I’m excited, I’m doing lots of cool tasks. I’m internet hosting an AJGA occasion. I’ve been specializing in faculty, hanging out with associates, and being with folks I haven’t been ready to hang around with within the final two years. It’s very nice to have some bonding time and simply benefit from the offseason slightly bit extra. It’s a grind, given I’m nonetheless balancing lecturers and golf. However the grind truthfully challenges me.
What lessons are you taking this semester?
I’m taking a Politics of Algorithms, Deliberative Democracy and its Critics, a Hebrew Jewish Brief Tales class, a Science Know-how & Society class and a category referred to as Sleep and Desires. It’s a cognitive science class. You get bonus factors when you go to sleep in lecture. You get woken up by a squirt gun.
Did you deliberately resolve to take a step again from golf and throw your self into faculty this 12 months?
Positively. Particularly with final 12 months, I used to be in a position to stability golf and college, however my social life was deterred slightly bit. I had lots of issue in balancing myself and my well being, bodily. It was slightly bit onerous to navigate in that sense. This 12 months I used to be much more intentional. I’m taking 22 items of lessons. That’s a giant load for any pupil. I primarily determined to complete my lecturers and prioritize that, after which after I might relaxation and get well that’s after I might spend time with folks. Simply be slightly bit decrease upkeep, so after I begin taking part in on the finish of March I’m not utterly drained and worn out from the final three months. It’s been quite a bit higher. I personally want to put together the easiest way I can beginning in March. With an excellent lengthy season my precedence is to relaxation slightly bit extra.
What have been a few of these hiccups in your well being?
Every little thing piled up by itself. I did lots of intense training in school, and I had lots of class as nicely. I additionally simply went full velocity into the season. I unfold myself slightly skinny in observe and the way in which I used to be doing issues. By the tip of the 12 months, I had this recurring factor with my wrist that began again in 2020, and it simply got here again. I don’t need it to stay power, in order that’s a precedence. I’m slowly beginning to load my wrist once more to ensure it’s robust. You possibly can go to bodily remedy and have the irritation resolved, however to strengthen it or at the very least carry it again to its regular efficiency, you’ve going to want to do circuits that contain resistance and weight. That’ll get me the place I wish to be.
Do you could have any mindset adjustments or targets you’ve hoping to make in 2025?
The No. 1 factor that I take into account — and I used to be speaking to my complete workforce about it — is I simply wish to be sure I’m intentional with the issues I’ve been doing and the schedule I curate with them. I wish to keep accountable for balancing every little thing and truly do every little thing, for instance. Ensuring I’m going by way of exercises with my coach, resting my physique and enjoyable it, giving myself occasions the place I can work with my coach and observe effectively. I created a schedule for myself, and I want to simply go together with that. So when issues occur on tour and there’s quite a bit occurring, I’ve a plan to fall again on. Final 12 months, I misdirected in the way in which I used to be making ready myself for occasions. In order that’s the principle precedence this 12 months. I’m not so anxious in regards to the outcomes as a lot. When you’re in a position to plan the method and go together with it, that’s when outcomes come.
Do you discover consolation in sticking to a course of?
I discover freedom in it. As soon as you understand you’re on a trajectory that you simply curated, that’s when you could have slightly bit extra company to at the very least take into consideration if you might want to deviate plans. I used to be doing slightly bit an excessive amount of of going right here, going there — not fulfilling my priorities.
You began utilizing AimPoint this fall. Has it been serving to you and what has the method been like studying it?
I began utilizing it at The Annika, truly, and that week was my finest placing week on tour up to now. I really feel very inspired by it. Clearly, I nonetheless must do some observe. I do imagine that it’s helped me quite a bit, particularly with my confidence. And the gradual play factor — when you do it proper, it doesn’t gradual different folks up. So long as you’re courteous, that’s the most important factor.
Zhang modified her placing routine late final 12 months, switching to the AimPoint technique. (Julio Aguilar / Getty Pictures)
Talking of gradual play, the LPGA launched a brand new gradual play coverage. Do you suppose the tour has a gradual play drawback?
It’s undoubtedly been voiced by lots of gamers. We take lots of time ready, particularly on par 5s and par 3s. It slows up your day, and it slows issues for individuals who are watching. On the finish of the day, I feel it’s as much as gamers to create their routine to permit them to not be the gradual participant on the market. There are gamers who battle with that, which I perceive. I’m simply glad the LPGA has this regulation for everybody to observe. I’m not likely a quick participant, however I get paranoid about being gradual. I grew up taking part in junior golf on the AJGA, and also you get these purple playing cards whenever you’re gradual.
The LPGA is on the hunt for a brand new commissioner. What ought to their prime priorities be?
There’s a troublesome stability within the enterprise facet of golf and the precise aggressive world of golf, so I perceive how difficult it’s. The most important factor I’d want for the brand new commissioner to do is at the very least present communication or at the very least clear communication for what they intend on doing, and what you want to relay to the gamers. It’s important to develop the LPGA by way of engagement, by way of offers, by way of sponsorships. This requires lots of EQ and requires lots of intelligence in that sense. I’d say with that, the brand new commissioner actually must embody these staple items that would actually elevate the LPGA. It’s not simple. They must have the gamers’ finest pursuits too, which is a nice line to sort out. That’s why I say communication is tremendous key. If the gamers perceive the place the enterprise thoughts comes from, they might wish to critique issues however they’d even be OK with issues in the event that they at the very least have a voice that may inform them what’s occurring. That’s the most important factor.
Do you suppose the LPGA does sufficient to advertise its stars?
I don’t imagine so. I converse for lots of gamers who additionally imagine that. The reason being, I feel it takes characters to essentially showcase what the tour is about — to present folks a narrative or one thing to have interaction with. The LPGA has been attempting. I don’t suppose that it’s not taking place. They’re within the course of of making extra engagement for LPGA gamers to be uncovered to the general public. There are already characters on tour who’re prepared to fill these sneakers. It’s truthfully simply the strategic aspect of issues now. Exposing them to platforms, media and different folks. Lots of gamers are already prepared to take action. It’s worthwhile to have each ends of the stick. The participant who’s prepared to place themselves on the market, and a tour that’s prepared to push you on the market. There are lots of initiatives taking place behind the scenes. I’m not discouraged by them not doing something, it’s extra so they only haven’t completed a lot but.
(High photograph: Cliff Hawkins / Getty Pictures)
