Following her groundbreaking debut at the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open, Rose Zhang has yet to claim her second victory. Zhang enjoyed a remarkable 2023 season with four top-10 finishes. Having recently completed her final exams at Stanford, the pro is now making stellar performances at the 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup. However, the question arises: Aren’t academics causing mental and physical fatigue for Zhang? Well, indeed, they are!

The 20-year-old delivered a career-best performance. In the opening round, Zhang scored six birdies in the front nine and carded three more in the back. She went on to set a tournament record with a remarkable 9-under-63 on Thursday. Despite the widespread attention on the #1 golfer, Nelly Korda, as she is pursuing her sixth consecutive victory, Zhang managed to shift the spotlight onto herself for now.

It’s clear that the strain of balancing academics and professional tournaments still weighs on the athlete’s body and mind. In a post-round interview, when asked, “How difficult has it been combining the two and now that you’re free being able to play?” the pro then revealed and underscored the difficulties associated with managing both responsibilities.

Zhang began by stating, “Definitely. I feel like the lack of sleep definitely caused me to — it was a little bit more of a struggle to balance both.” As she highlighted her difficulties, she elaborated, “Even though I feel strongly to finish both and do it in a really high achieving way, sometimes it’s — it’s a little difficult to be able to balance your timing with your rest and be able to focus on both ends.”

It’s undoubtedly been a rollercoaster journey for the pro, but regardless of the challenges, Zhang has no plans of abandoning either academics or golf, as she expressed, “I think I’m definitely continuing and going to continue doing it. It just takes a little bit time and I’m still adjusting.”

This isn’t the first time the two-time NCAA champion has exhibited a steadfast commitment to juggle both her athletic endeavors and academic pursuits. When she relocated to LA in March, she echoed a similar sentiment, affirming her dedication to continue excelling in both areas. Moreover, Zhang has consistently shown gratitude for the opportunities presented to her and remains appreciative of them.

Rose Zhang appreciates the opportunities in life

Instead of being overwhelmed with her duties, the American star expressed gratitude for the chance to pursue her studies, noting that not many athletes get the opportunity to finish their education, and that was something she was looking to capitalize on. Zhang also expresses her gratitude, stating, “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to do both,” underscoring her thankfulness for the chance to compete on professional courses alongside renowned pros and continue her studies.

While Zhang also acknowledges that “it’s so hard winning out here on tour,” this season out of the six events in which Zhang participated, she missed the cut twice, first at the Ford Championship and later at the Chevron Championship. The 20-year-old has started her seventh tournament with a bang. She needs to keep her momentum up, as Madelene Sagstorm is just two strokes away with a score of 7 under 65 and is currently holding the second solo spot on the leaderboard. Nonetheless, there are three more rounds to go at the Upper Montair Country Club. Do you think Rose Zhang possesses the capabilities to overcome these challenges and emerge victorious? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.