Rose Zhang makes history by winning LPGA event on professional debut, adding fuel to Tiger Woods comparisons
Stop if you’ve heard this story: A record-setting golfer at Stanford — who won every title during his illustrious teenage career, achieved early success. started at Augusta National and debuted under a lot of pressure — immediately exceeding expectations as a pro. t
Rose Zhang won the Mizuho Americas Open on Sunday, claiming victory at the LPGA on her professional debut following a historic career at Stanford. Zhang beat Jennifer Kupcho in a two-hole playoff by a tie for 18th at Liberty National, perhaps only adding to the sense of grandeur surrounding her win.
Zhang on Sunday became the first woman to win the LPGA championship for the first time since Beverly Hanson in 1951. This after leaving college as the first woman in history to win it. won the NCAA Individual Championships in a row (2022-23). She won that second national title just 13 days ago.
“What’s going on?! I can’t believe it,” Zhang said, recalling those who were witnessing her historic victory after the round. “Just last week I won the NCAA with my teammates. Going pro and being on the field here has been amazing. I’ve enjoyed this journey.”
“This golf course is rugged,” she continued. “I really have a little bit of everything. I’ve tasted the pressure. I’ve tasted the wind. I try to stay as calm as ever. I know that golf is just an abrasive game, and you really do. I had to dig in. Again, that’s what I did. And I’m glad I’m here.”
It’s certainly fair to compare Zhang’s career start to that of Tiger Woods, a 15-time major champion, who was similarly successful as an amateur and student athlete. college at Stanford before achieving near-instant success as a pro on the PGA Tour. While it’s unknown how the rest of Zhang’s career will play out, she seems poised to follow in his footsteps to win countless titles and become one of the game’s greatest.
But let’s not go too far forward.
After rounds of 70-69-66 in his first three days in New York, Zhang found himself playing in the final pair on Sunday. Again, this is her first LPGA event as a pro.
She followed the third round without a bogey with a 16 par 74 scoreline, which included a bogey at the end to send her, perhaps disappointingly, into the knockout round against Kupcho, who had an amateur career as hell. Zhang and Kupcho are two of four winners of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Award.
Both hit long shots on the first replay of the 18th hole, and Zhang looked a lot more relaxed than those watching to see a bit of golf history.
It shows in the second playoff hole. After Zhang found the fairway, she took the tournament hit as she approached the green when Kupcho took the lead. Kupcho was too aggressive with his shot, hitting it off the green and eventually hitting the ball three times for a bogey.
Zhang needed just two putts from the easiest two putts of her life. She finished second, and the celebration of one of the great winners in amateur golf history is officially on.
Michelle Wie West, the organizer of the tournament, burst into tears. Given Wie West’s history as a major champion and elite amateur, it gives even more weight to an already significant moment. Zhang also had a short emotional time.
How could you not be after such an impactful end to your college career and subsequent professional debut?
“[The support from everyone is] unbelievable,” she said. “I want to continue [being a role model]. I want to keep trying to chart a path for kids to follow their dreams. I’m so grateful that the kids like me, love my golf. I am very grateful for the support. I will continue to do what I am doing. I will continue to fight, continue to work hard and hope everyone will continue to watch.”
Zhang won 12 times in 20 starts (!) at Stanford, including 8 out of 10 starts in her sophomore year. Really, she won everything. Pac-12 individual championship, Annika Award (twice), US Girls Junior, US Women’s Amateur, along with the aforementioned ANWA and those two NCAAs.
She holds the record for ranking as the world’s #1 female amateur golfer for the most weeks, and twice set the NCAA season average scoring record (69.68 as a freshman, 68.81 as a freshman, 68.81 as a freshman) sophomore).
How good is Zhang’s college career? Woods won 11 times in a two-year career with 26 tournaments at Stanford. That’s a win less than Zhang in six than event for Tiger.
All of it – the whole week, the last month and the last 13 months of her entire phenomenal career – represents nothing but greatness. However, it rarely happens like that, doesn’t it? How rarely does the child phenomenon really exceed expectations? Tiger has clearly done more than anyone could have dreamed of. LeBron James thought. What does Zhang’s future hold?
Of course, it was a different era than the one in which many women’s golf records were set. Kathy Whitworth won 88 LPGA events, mainly in the 1960s and 1970s. More recently, Annika Sorenstam has won 72 times, including 10 major titles. However, that’s five short of the grand record held by Patty Berg with 15. Mickey Wright won 13 for a total of five women hit double figures.
It’s heady stuff, but again, Zhang is unmatched by far. She’s won 60% of the college events she’s participated in, and while her 100% win rate as a pro is certainly not going to continue, there isn’t. What about this particular debut makes people believe that she will do anything but gracefully continue to succeed and win everything she looks at.
