ANWA Doesn’t Allow It’s Defending Champion on 2024 Players Field; Here’s Why

Georgia is prepared to witness the competition among 78 amateur golfers at Augusta National Golf Club. With the four days of enthralling competition before the Masters, the stakes at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur are high. In a field of young golfers, one name who displayed stellar skills last year, and won, that is, Rose Zhang is missing. Why? Shouldn’t she have returned to defend her title?

She should have returned to Greens of Augusta to defend her title, but hasn’t because Zhang turned pro! As a professional golfer, she is ineligible to participate in the ANWA. Zhang was dominating in the first two rounds of the 2023 ANWA. She carded a record-breaking opening-round of 66 followed by a record-breaking 65 to take a five-shot lead into the final 18 holes.

Things changed on Saturday for Zhang when she double bogeyed the first hole and bogeyed the fourth, then the fifth, followed by the seventh. She also made a few birdies, and the 3-hour weather delay just proved to be beneficial for the star. Play went on and she made a final stroke, tapping in for par from inches away on the second extra hole, and claimed victory against Jenny Bae.

Following her second NCAA Division I women’s title win, Zhang officially announced it on her Instagram account. She began her professional career with a remarkable start, as she won her debut event, the Mizuho Americas Open, and also represented the U.S. Solheim Cup team.

Entering her rookie year in 2023, Zhang showcased an outstanding performance on the golf course. She achieved top-10 finishes in three out of the four majors she played in as a pro. Apart from that, Zhang also delivered exceptional performances in other LPGA Tour events. Of all her achievements, the most notable was her third-place finish in the Maybank Championship. It’s worth noting that she achieved this performance while effectively balancing her college commitments, which she has ascertained as one of her priorities.

Are Rose Zhang’s academics affecting her ability to compete on the golf course?

Despite some uncertainty surrounding the “Standford family forever” question, Zhang remained committed to completing her graduation, as she said, “One thing is for sure: I wanted to finish my degree.” While juggling through college and her move to Las Vegas, instead of getting overwhelmed, the American star expressed gratitude for the chance to pursue her studies.

Read More: Augusta National Women’s Amateur 2024: Qualifying Criteria Broken Down

She even expressed that not many athletes have the opportunity to pursue their studies. Meanwhile, Zhang is successfully managing her academic pursuits while delivering stellar performances inside the ropes.

As time passes, the 21-year-old may encounter further academic challenges until her graduation in 2026. Do you think she will be able to navigate through it? It remains to be seen.

Read More: 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Trophy: History, Significance and Legacy Explored