Rose Zhang‘s rise to popularity in the golf world has been nothing short of extraordinary. The 21-year-old American phenom has established herself as a strong force on the LPGA Tour after making history by winning her professional debut at the Mizuho Americas Open in 2023. Her transformation from a talented amateur at Stanford to a professional golfer has captured the attention of both supporters and rivals.

But Zhang’s journey has recently been hampered by several unforeseen difficulties. Her preparations for the upcoming season have been hit by a mysterious health problem, which has raised doubts about her capacity to compete at the top level. Will Rose Zhang be able to compete in the U.S. Women’s Open in 2024, given her health issues and busy personal schedule?

Rose Zhang at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open

Yes, according to the U.S. Women’s Open’s official website, Zhang is listed as one of the participants of the second Major of the season. But it is not going to be smooth sailing. Rose Zhang recently disclosed that she has been coping with an unknown medical problem. This problem surfaced as she was getting ready for the upcoming LPGA season. Zhang, who is well-known for her outstanding amateur career at Stanford and her successful professional debut, has faced many difficulties on and off the golf course.

Zhang talked about her symptoms and how they affected her performance in an interview. “My body has not been processing things as well,” she stated. It is unusual for her to experience bloating even after consuming veggies, as she said. In order to understand and manage her condition, Zhang has been collaborating with a nutritionist. Her goal is to reintroduce various food groups and observe her body’s response.

Zhang’s performance and schedule have been impacted by her health. Her extreme intestinal pain forced her to withdraw from the Mizuho Americas Open, underscoring the unpredictable nature of her sickness. She is still confident that she can compete and do well at the U.S. Women’s Open in spite of these setbacks.

Challenges of life on tour for the Stanford star

Rose Zhang’s challenges extend beyond her health. She has been balancing her personal life, professional golf career, and academic obligations. Zhang is still committed to finishing her Stanford degree in communications. She now needs to juggle her rigorous golf schedule with her coursework as a result of this choice. “Even though I feel strongly to finish both and do it in a really high-achieving way, sometimes it’s a little difficult,” Zhang admitted .

Her academic calendar frequently conflicts with major competitions. For example, in March, her college finals fell on the same day as the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship. Zhang showed her dedication to her studies and her sport by effectively managing her time between tests and the competition.

Zhang has suffered from the strain of handling these responsibilities. She has burned out and had trouble sleeping. “The lack of sleep and the constant grinding in school, it definitely hasn’t been easy,” she admitted. Zhang, though, thinks that she will eventually gain from the discipline and time management abilities she is learning.

Zhang has persevered and shown her skill in spite of these obstacles. She has had some noteworthy successes, like her triumph at the Cognizant Founders Cup and her victory in her professional debut at the Mizuho Americas Open. Her rise in the global rankings as a result of these accomplishments has made her a strong contender for this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.