Rose Zhang finished eighth at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, which barely describes the exhilaration her play produced in her major debut.
Rose Zhang has certainly been generating a lot of buzz lately. Having caused a sensation as a multiple-winning world No. 1 amateur, the 20-year-old phenom just turned professional last month.
Only two weeks after turning pro, she burst onto the LPGA scene by winning the title in her very first tournament as an LPGA professional, at the Mizuho Americas Open just a few weeks before making her golf major debut at the KPMG Women's PGA.
Heading into her first major, anticipation was high for what Rose Zhang might accomplish on such a large stage. Would she buckle under the weight of expectation and turn out to be an overhyped presence at Baltusrol Golf Club? Zhang had already demonstrated that she could handle pressure-cooker moments, winning the sudden playoff against Jennifer Kupcho at the Liberty National Golf Course. But the intensity of a golf major is a far different atmosphere.
Has Rose Zhang lived up to the hype?
From what we saw on Sunday in Springfield, NJ, the Stanford University sensation justified all the hype and then some.
Her first two days on the course perhaps showed a bit of nerve, underwhelming with a one under score on the first day that set her back behind several leaders. Even worse, she followed up on Friday with an uncharacteristic plus-three 74 that seemed to indicate that perhaps all the attention at her first major was overwhelming the California native.
"Weekend is to play the best golf I can, especially being on a major championship venue," said Zhang after her third round. "Baltusrol is a challenge, and I definitely felt that the first two days."
All that changed on Saturday, where Zhang found her groove, with just one bogey, but two crucial birdies to push her up the leaderboard. However, the 20-year-old saved the best for last, with a thrilling eagle on the very last hole to set the golf course ablaze.
"The eagle was incredible. I felt like it was my best shot the entire day. I felt like my swing was really solid. It was way better than the first couple days. Finally getting in the groove," Zhang explained.
All of a sudden Zhang found herself among the golfers in contention for the title, erasing any doubt that may have transpired the day before. True champions have the ability to dig deep and snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat. And it looked like that was exactly what Rose Zhang was in the process of accomplishing.
It was an exciting prospect to witness. Would the young wunderkind pull off the major title in just her second LPGA professional tournament? Zhang certainly justified all the buzz as she hit the ground running on Sunday, knocking out two sets of back-to-back birdies on the front nine, only to add two more on holes 11 and 14 to put her within two paces from the leader. However, two crucial mistakes halted her momentum, leaving her only chance on the final hole, with the hope of repeating her miracle eagle just 24 hours before.
The stress of the moment proved too much, however, with the American golfer showing that she is indeed human, with Zhang's tee shot landing in the water and reversing her good fortune from the day before. Finishing 67 at five under, Rose Zhang tied for eighth along with Ayaka Furue and Jenny Shin.
It would be another 20-year-old who would walk away with the surprise win, China's Ruoning Yin.
"I've learned so much. Just playing alongside the pros and playing against the best in the world, it's something that I don't take for granted," said Zhang during her Saturday press conference. "I've just been really taking it in stride and learning what it's like to really be inside the ropes."
There is no doubt of Rose Zhang's abilities. At just age 20, she's proven she can handle high-pressure moments and her driving and putting skills are extraordinary, with an innate feel for the greens that leaves you breathless.
"I wish a couple more putts could have dropped… but, you know, it's all good," Zhang said, according to SB Nation.
With the next major occurring at the revered Pebble Beach Golf Course, all eyes will continue to be on Rose Zhang at the U.S. Open in her home state. She is certain to keep wowing golf fans. And it really is only a matter of time before she walks away with a major trophy. The U.S. Open takes place July 6-9.
