There are a number 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 out to be 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 annually to steadiness college 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 recreation 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 crew. In response to TGL, energetic discussions are going down with the LPGA to plot competitions that would combine prime feminine gamers. With digital holes, gamers in a combined occasion may all hit from the identical tee packing containers with the know-how adjusting for applicable 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 latest investor in TGL. How did that come about?
I’d heard about it on social media, however I by no means actually considered turning 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 enjoying on the market. It’s cool to be on the investing facet of issues, this is likely one of the first issues I’ve invested in, within the golf world no less than. The Bay Space has performed an enormous function in my life and profession. I’m a student-athlete at Stanford, I play a number 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 wonderful. It’s going to be cool to observe the crew on TV and say, “Oh, I’ve slightly half in that!” Probably not … 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 offers an power that even non-golfers can take pleasure in. I believe it’s a very good platform to show totally different components of the sport, present folks’s personalities, and have slightly little bit of enjoyable. A few of my non-golf pals are like, “Oh, this factor is sort of a complete stadium and also you’re enjoying golf indoors? What does that even imply?” You’ve acquired all these loopy lights — it mainly turns right into a present. It’s 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 facet of all of that is that gamers are mic’d up and get to work together with followers and one another. Individuals wish to see competitors and camaraderie however some type of flare to every character.
Ought to LPGA gamers be part of TGL?
I believe that’s a subject for dialogue. That will positively be very fascinating. It brings a number of selection with the format that it’s — indoor golf, one vs. one or crew vs. crew. Having variety actually brings this form of platform to life. I can positively 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 believe lots of people don’t perceive, there are a number of characters on the market on the LPGA Tour. You’ve acquired lots of people with personalities which might be so suited to the sort of format.
Who ought to TGL recruit from the LPGA?
We’re speaking about in style characters right here. To begin off, for my part, I’d like to see Meghan Khang hop on there. She is aware of discuss, that’s for positive. Charley Hull is a world famend title, it’d be actually entertaining to see what she does. If you would 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 profitable Solheim Cup crew. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Photos)
You made your season debut on the HGV Event 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 a number of cool tasks. I’m internet hosting an AJGA occasion. I’ve been specializing in college, hanging out with pals, and being with folks I haven’t been in a position 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 actually challenges me.
What lessons are you taking this semester?
I’m taking a Politics of Algorithms, Deliberative Democracy and its Critics, a Hebrew Jewish Quick Tales class, a Science Know-how & Society class and a category known as Sleep and Desires. It’s a cognitive science class. You get bonus factors in the event you go to sleep in lecture. You get woken up by a squirt gun.
Did you deliberately determine to take a step again from golf and throw your self into college this yr?
Positively. Particularly with final yr, I used to be capable of steadiness golf and college, however my social life was deterred slightly bit. I had a number of issue in balancing myself and my well being, bodily. It was slightly bit onerous to navigate in that sense. This yr I used to be much more intentional. I’m taking 22 items of lessons. That’s a giant load for any scholar. I primarily determined to complete my lecturers and prioritize that, after which after I may relaxation and recuperate that’s after I may spend time with folks. Simply be slightly bit decrease upkeep, so after I begin enjoying on the finish of March I’m not utterly drained and worn out from the final three months. It’s been rather a lot higher. I personally want to put together one of the best ways 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 a number of intense working towards at college, and I had a number of class as effectively. I additionally simply went full pace 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 yr, 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 continual, 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 no less than deliver it again to its regular efficiency, you’ve going to wish to do circuits that contain resistance and weight. That’ll get me the place I wish to be.
Do you will have any mindset modifications or objectives you’ve hoping to make in 2025?
The No. 1 factor that I take note of — and I used to be speaking to my total crew about it — is I simply wish to ensure I’m intentional with the issues I’ve been doing and the schedule I curate with them. I wish to keep accountable for balancing all the things and truly do all the things, for instance. Ensuring I’m going via exercises with my coach, resting my physique and stress-free it, giving myself instances 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 rather a lot happening, I’ve a plan to fall again on. Final yr, I misdirected in the way in which I used to be getting ready myself for occasions. In order that’s the principle precedence this yr. I’m not so nervous in regards to the outcomes as a lot. In the event you’re capable of 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 realize you’re on a trajectory that you just curated, that’s when you will have slightly bit extra company to no less than take into consideration if it is advisable 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, really, and that week was my greatest placing week on tour so far. I really feel very inspired by it. Clearly, I nonetheless must do some observe. I do imagine that it’s helped me rather a lot, particularly with my confidence. And the sluggish play factor — in the event you do it proper, it doesn’t sluggish different folks up. So long as you’re courteous, that’s the largest factor.
Zhang modified her placing routine late final yr, switching to the AimPoint technique. (Julio Aguilar / Getty Photos)
Talking of sluggish play, the LPGA launched a brand new sluggish play coverage. Do you suppose the tour has a sluggish play downside?
It’s positively been voiced by a number of gamers. We take a number 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 believe it’s as much as gamers to create their routine to permit them to not be the sluggish participant on the market. There are gamers who wrestle 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 sluggish. I grew up enjoying junior golf on the AJGA, and also you get these pink playing cards whenever you’re sluggish.
The LPGA is on the hunt for a brand new commissioner. What ought to their prime priorities be?
There’s a troublesome steadiness within the enterprise side of golf and the precise aggressive world of golf, so I perceive how difficult it’s. The largest factor I’d want for the brand new commissioner to do is no less than present communication or no less than clear communication for what they intend on doing, and what you want to relay to the gamers. You must develop the LPGA via engagement, via offers, via sponsorships. This requires a number of EQ and requires a number 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’ greatest pursuits too, which is a nice line to deal with. 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 no less than have a voice that may inform them what’s happening. That’s the largest 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 believe it takes characters to essentially showcase what the tour is about — to offer folks a narrative or one thing to interact 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 keen to fill these footwear. It’s actually simply the strategic facet of issues now. Exposing them to platforms, media and different folks. A number of gamers are already keen to take action. It’s worthwhile to have each ends of the stick. The participant who’s keen to place themselves on the market, and a tour that’s keen to push you on the market. There are a number of initiatives taking place behind the scenes. I’m not discouraged by them not doing something, it’s extra so they only haven’t finished a lot but.
(Prime photograph: Cliff Hawkins / Getty Photos)