The first NCAA golfer to score an endorsement deal with sports apparel brand Adidas, Rose Zhang is turning heads and is slated to become one of the most successful female players only a year after she turned pro.
The 21-year-old California native showed promise as a golfer from a young age and began training under her swing coach at when she was 11. Before entering Stanford University, she already excelled at the sport, ranking at the top of her amateur age group at high school.
Rose Zhang’s professional career has taken off in a big way. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
Following an illustrious college career, she kicked off her professional career with an impressive start. She won her first professional tournament during the Mizuho Americas Open nine days after kicking off her professional career.
At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, she played as part of Team USA alongside teammates Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu, placing eighth overall.
Here’s a look at how golf’s rising star is shattering records both on and off the course.
She’s being compared to Tiger Woods
Rose Zhang made her mark as a golfer while still at university. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
Ahead of turning pro, Zhang showed promise as one to watch in the golfing world. A natural talent, she was called “the Mozart of golf, the Van Gogh of golf” by Stanford head coach Anne Walker.
A top golfer during her amateur career, Zhang set the record for consecutive weeks at the top of the World Amateur Golf Rankings in April 2023, eventually spending 141 weeks at the No 1 spot.
When she took home an NCAA Division I Women’s Championship win in May 2023, Zhang became the first woman to win the title twice. The win was also her 12th at Stanford, putting her ahead of fellow Cardinal golfer Tiger Woods.
Her college career was cut short, however, when at the end of 2023, Zhang left Stanford to begin her professional career.
She’s making major bank with her wins
