Rose Zhang, for 72 years no debut like this

Rose Zhang. Write down this name because we will hear about it more and more often. After 141 weeks as number one in the world amateur rankings, the 20-year-old American turned pro in recent days and immediately won her first race on the LPGA Tour yesterday. It hasn’t happened in 72 years that a rookie lifted the trophy on her debut among the professionals.

Rose Zhang, results

To find success like this you have to go back in time. It was 1951 when debutant Beverly Hanson beat Babe Zaharias to win the Eastern Open. Definitely another era. Today Zhang took home the Mizuho Americas Open after two playoff holes with Jennifer Kupcho. A playoff that she had almost sought after, failing an easy putt on the 18th hole.

Those who follow golf consider Zhang the strongest player in the world since Michelle Wie set foot in professionalism in 2009. Comparisons with Tiger Woods abound: both are Californians, both come from Stanford and both have forged ahead.

It couldn’t be otherwise since this 20-year-old hasn’t already won. Born in Irvine, Californian Rose is considered the best amateur ever. In fact, she has won the McCormack Medal three times (the title given by the R & A to the best amateur in the world) and the Annika Award twice (best college player). Two-time consecutive NCAA champion, Zhang has the record for the lowest score in college (68.81).

Rose Zhang has already won everything

On the court she won the US Women’s Amateur 2020, the US Girls’ Junior 2021, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur 2023. At the time, she was sixteen and passed the cut at the US Women’s Open 2019 while the following year she finished eleventh at the ANA Inspiration , one of the top five tournaments on the US women’s pro circuit. Zhang won an impressive twelve of the twenty college tournaments he played. Eight out of ten of those played in 2022. To give an idea: Tiger Woods won “only” eleven of his 26 games while playing at Stanford. The GOAT complimented her in real time.

And now the best possible debut, with the affirmation overlooking New York. A success that earned her 412 thousand dollars, the full card to play on the LPGA Tour and the chance to be called up to the next Solheim Cup.

“I just can’t believe it. Only last week I won the NCAA championship with my teammates – she said holding back tears at the end of the match – I immediately turned pro, I came here and it was simply fantastic. A truly exhilarating journey.”