Despite Her Record-Breaking Prowess, Young Gun Rose Zhang Faces a Massive LPGA Setback

If there is one name on the LPGA Tour that people are likely to remember for years to come, it is Rose Zhang. The emerging LPGA sensation has made her name sort of indelible in the golf fraternity already, after making and breaking records.

She was congratulated by the likes of Tiger Woods after she won her first LPGA event on debut, Mizuho Americas Open in New Jersey. After her stellar debut shortly after turning pro, she is now returning to New Jersey for the KPMG Women’s Championship starting June 22, and she is already making headlines! 

Being the most decorated amateur golfer, expectations from her are skyrocketing. One would think she is going to bag important golf awards after the kinds of performances she has come up with of late, but that’s not the case. There is a glitch, let’s find out what it is. 

Rose Zhang faces a major setback on LPGA Tour

The 20-year-old LPGA sensation was the talk of the town when she made her debut appearance in New Jersey earlier this year. She raised her stock immensely after she emerged victorious in the event, and became the only second-ever female golfer to win on debut, after Beverly Hanson. 

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Despite jumping to the 61st position in the world after her stellar victory at Mizuho Americas Open, she is nowhere to be found on the LPGA points lists for the Player of the Year, or Rookie of the Year.

If the young star had been given the points (150 points for the Rookie race or 30 for the Player of the Year race), she would have been a strong contender for the awards. 

It is indeed disheartening for her not have to the points she deserves. The Rookie of the Year award appears more or less out of the question for her, however, she still might be able to contend for the Player of the Year award on account of consistency. 

When the LPGA was asked an explanation, according to Golf Week, an LPGAT spokesperson said, “As with anything within our regulations, we will review as a group and make any changes that benefit the LPGA and the membership. Any proposed changes will not be made retroactively since we have already started the 2023 LPGA season and 2023 and 2024 Solheim Cup qualifying periods.”

For which recognition did Zhang earn points though? 

In 2021, the LPGA tour came up with a historic change. The LPGA altered its rules to accommodate winning non-members in terms of their receiving official points and money for any win after accepting a tour membership.  

The rules were brought in after Sophia Popov’s victory at the 2020 AIG Women’s British Open. Her money from Royal Troon, the venue for the event, was unofficial, and she didn’t earn any points toward the CME Race to the Globe. Consequently, she couldn’t feature in the ANA Inspiration and the CME Group Tour Championship.

Thanks to the alterations brought in the LPGA regulations in the 2021 season, Zhang earned 500 CME points. But that is all she has got, nothing else. 

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below about Rose Zhang not getting points for her Mizuho Americas win.

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