There is much to praise about Rose Chan. Before becoming a pro two years ago, she was undoubtedly the most wondrous amateur in the history of women's golf. Currently she is competing in the LPGA and has already had a professional victory at the age of 21. Chan is as poised as they get. The Gen-Z movement of the game.
Zhang has done everything while attending a communications major at Stanford University, earning 22 credits this winter (she finished a 10-week quarter each year to balance her school and international LPGA schedules. I'm taking it). She caught up when Zhang finished a third to third quarter of her class towards graduation day in 2027 Athletic To talk about the state of the LPGA, her tailored preseason game plan and new forays into golf simulator experiments. Zhang is currently a minority investor at Bay Golf Club, the San Francisco team at TGL. According to TGL, there has been a positive discussion with the LPGA and is devising a competition that can integrate top female players. With virtual holes, all players in mixed events may have all the technology adjusted to the right distance from the same teebox. The outlook for that arrangement is certainly fascinating, and Zhang is intrigued by it.
This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
You are the latest investor in TGL. How did that happen?
I've heard it on social media, but I've never really thought about becoming an investor. My agency has given me an opportunity. I'm not the one playing there, so that's a low stake for me. It's cool to be on the investing side of things. This is one of the first things I've invested in at least the golf world. The Bay Area has played a major role in my life and career. I am a Stanford student athlete. I play a lot of golf in the sci-fi town. It's even more surprising to see other athletes like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala. It would be cool to watch a team on TV and say, “Oh, I'm a bit of a part of that!” “It's not really true, but I do. I'm also investing emotionally.
Have you seen a lot of TGL?
I have cool technology and indoor facilities that give even non-golfers the energy to enjoy. I think it's a really good platform to reveal different parts of the game, show people's personalities and do something a little fun. Some of my non-golf friends said, “Oh, this is like the whole stadium, do you play golf indoors? What does that mean?” You've got all these crazy lights Have – it basically turns into a show. It is a source of good entertainment for those who are not exposed to it. You can't see the golfer's personality because we don't talk. The funniest aspect of this is that players can mic up and interact with fans and each other. People like to see competition and camaraderie, but each character has some kind of flare.
Do LPGA players need to be part of TGL?
I think that's a topic of discussion. It will definitely be very interesting. Indoor golf, one or team vs. team. Having diversity really brings this kind of platform. You can definitely see a particular player taking part in a TGL event and the LPGA hopping on it. I played a “match” with Rory McIlroy, Lexi Thompson and Max Homa. It's similar to that, but it's just a fair play for everyone, as it's inside and indoors. I don't think many people understand it. There are many characters on the LPGA tour. There are many people who have a personality that is very suitable for this type of format.
Who should TGL adopt from the LPGA?
Here we're talking about popular characters. First, in my opinion, I would like to see Meghan Khang jumping there. She knows how to speak, that's certainly true. Charlie Hull is a world-renowned name. It would be really interesting to see what she's doing. If you really want a good player, you have Lydia Co, you have Nelly Korda.
Zhang's 2024 highlights appeared in the Solheim Cup team. (Gregory Shams/Getty Images)
He made his season debut at the HGV Tournament of Champions and posted with a T10 finish, but I know it was a break from winter studies at Stanford. How have you treated you during your offseason?
It was far more academic than actual golf. I'm excited, I'm doing a lot of cool projects. We are holding an AJGA event. I focused on school, dated friends, and was with people I couldn't hang out for the past two years. I'm really happy to spend some bonding time and enjoy a little more offseason. I'm still balancing academics and golf, so it's shattering. But grinds honestly challenge me.
Are you filming this semester?
I take the algorithm, the deliberative democracy and its critics' politics, the Hebrew Jewish short story class, the science and technology and society class, the class called sleep and dreams. It is the class of cognitive science. You will earn bonus points when you fall asleep during the lecture. You wake up with a squirting gun.
Have you decided to take a step back from golf this year and throw it into school?
absolutely. Especially last year, I was able to balance golf and school, but my social life was a bit deterred. I had many difficulties in balancing myself and my health physically. In that sense, it was a bit difficult to navigate. This year was more intentional. I am taking a class of 22 units. That's a huge burden for any student. I basically decided to finish off the academic and prioritize it, and when I can rest, that's when I can spend time with people. It's just a bit less maintenance so if you start playing at the end of March, you're not totally tired for the past three months. It's gotten even better. Personally, I would like to prepare the best way to start in March. In a very long season, my priority is to take a little more rest.
What were some of those hiccups in your health?
Everything was stacked on its own. I had a lot of intense practice at school and I also had many classes. I was also at full speed during the season. I actually spread out the way I was doing things a little thinner. By the end of the year, I had done this repetition with my wrists back in 2020 and it was just back. I don't want it to remain chronic, so that's a priority. I slowly start loading my wrists again and making sure it's strong. You can go to physical therapy and resolve the inflammation, but you will need to do a circuit with resistance and weight to strengthen it or at least return to normal performance. It will take me where I want to be.
Are there any ideas or goals you would like to do in 2025?
The first thing I have in mind – and I was talking to the whole team about it – I purposely confirm what I'm doing and what I'm curating with them I just want to do it. For example, you want to take responsibility for balancing everything and actually do it all. I make sure I'm training with my trainer, and give my body a rest, relax, and work with my coach to practice efficiently. I created a schedule for myself and would like to go with it. So, when things happen on tour and a lot is happening, I have a plan to back off. Last year I misdirected the way I was preparing for the event. This is my number one priority this year. I'm not so worried about the outcome. If you can plan the process and use it, that's when the results come.
Do you find comfort in sticking to the process?
I find freedom in it. Once you know you have a curated trajectory, it's when you have a little more agency to at least consider whether you need to deviate from your plan. I went here, went there and didn't meet my priorities.
I started using AimPoint this fall. Did it help you and what was the process of learning it?
I actually started using it with Anika and that week was my best putting week on the tour so far. I feel very encouraged by it. Obviously, I still have to practice a few more. I think it helped me a lot, especially with confidence. And the slow play thing – if you do it right, it won't slow others down. As long as you're polite, that's the biggest thing.
Zhang changed her putting routine late last year and switched to the Aimpoint strategy. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Speaking of slow play, LPGA has released a new slow play policy. Do you think there are slower issues with the tour?
It's definitely been spoken up by many players. It takes a lot of time, especially with par 5 and par 3. It slows your day and slows things down for those who are watching. I think it's up to the player to make sure that at the end of the day, players don't become slow players. There are players who struggle with that, but I understand that. I'm pleased that the LPGA has this regulation that everyone should follow. I'm not a really fast player, but I'm paranoid about being slow. I grew up playing junior golf at AJGA. You got these red cards when you were late.
LPGA is looking for a new commissioner. What are their top priorities?
There is a difficult balance between the business side of golf and the real world of golf's competitiveness, so we understand how challenging it is. The biggest thing I want to do for the new commissioner is to at least provide communication, or at least provide clear communication for what they intend and what you want to relay to the players. You need to grow your LPGA through engagement, trading and sponsorship. This requires a lot of EQ and in that sense it requires a lot of intelligence. So I think the new commissioner needs to embody the fundamentals that could really boost the LPGA. It's not easy. They must also have the greatest benefit of the player. This is a subtle line that needs to be addressed. So I say communication is extremely important. If players understand where the business mind comes from, they may want to criticize things, but at least if there is a voice that can tell you what's going on, they're fine with things too It must be. That's the biggest thing.
Do you think the LPGA is enough to promote that star?
I don't believe that. I speak for many players who believe that too. The reason for this is that I think you need characters to really showcase what the tour is. I'm trying out LPGA. I don't think that's happening. They are in the process of generating more engagement for LPGA players to be made public. The tour already has characters willing to fill those shoes. Honestly, it's a strategic aspect of the situation right now. Expose them to platforms, media and others. Many players are already willing to do so. You will need both ends of the stick. A tour with players willing to put themselves there and wanting to kick you out there. There are many initiatives taking place behind the scenes. I'm not disappointed that they've done anything, that's more.
(Top photo: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
