‘I Did Not Make That Up’: Dispute Amongst Teammates Forces Rose Zhang to Come Clean at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

The 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship concluded in style on Sunday. The tournament winner, Ruoning Yin, made an incredible birdie on the 18th hole, which lifted her to eight under par. This allowed the player to succeed over the former US Women’s Open titlist, Yuka Saso. But the young Chinese professional wasn’t the only player to impress the audience through her exceptional gameplay.

Another young talent who previously proved how much caliber she holds also provided tough competition. It was none other than Rose Zhang! She finished the tournament in the top 10 at T8. Despite not being able to convert her incredible finish on Day 3 into a miraculous victory, Zhang graciously sat for a press conference. Apart from her on-course prowess, she also made a candid confession about the off-field scenes.

Rose Zhang shares her perspective on her fandom’s name

Golf isn’t merely a sport that ends as soon as the game is over. Rather, the traditional sport has expanded to broader horizons today, where fans, thanks to social media sites, are invested in the lives of their stars. One such star who has become a fan favorite in no time is the rising prodigy, Rose Zhang.

Her talent and skills have compelled many stars and golf enthusiasts to appreciate the young golfer, so much so that it has given rise to a separate fanbase. Hence, a question regarding the same from one of the media personnel wasn’t at all surprising.

When asked about Rose Buds, the name Zhang’s fans call themselves, the golf icon immediately got a little embarrassed and shy. She said, “I will say I did not make that up, so it’s definitely not me who even came up with that idea“.

In between the soft chuckles, Zhang honestly came clean about how she had no hand in the name that the fans had come up with. Even though she did not comment much on whether she liked the name or not, her reaction seemed like enough of an answer.

Read More: Weeks After Earning Her First LPGA Paycheck, Rose Zhang, 20, Earns Respect and Invaluable Praises From Former World No. 1: “A Very Special Player”

On one hand, the golfer looked awkward while acknowledging the name; on the other hand, it must have been an unparallel feeling to get this much support and love at the beginning of a professional career. Moreover, she divulged to the interviewers about another group name that her teammates have come up with, which they believe is the originator of all this.

Zhang’s posse’s original name

While the question focused mostly on the new fanbase name, Zhang had an interesting snippet to share. The Stanford graduate mentioned how fellow golfers from her university call themselves “Zhang Gang“. She also mentioned that after her return from the Mizuho Americas Open to the college campus, she witnessed her teammates arguing about the name.

According to them, Zhang Gang was the original “squad or posse“. However, more than the dispute between her friends about the fandom name, Zhang was happy to share that moment with them. She was happy to have everyone come out and support her. After all, it feels spectacular to share one’s joy with close individuals. She said, “I heard so many cheers and felt so much love and support, it was really incredible“.

There is no doubt about the fact that Zhang has astonished the golf world with her golfing skills. From her amateur career to her first victory as a professional golfer at the Mizuho Americas Open, she has accomplished incredible feats. It has not only opened a sea of opportunities for young talent but also welcomed generous support from the golf audience.

In addition to her relatively new fans, she can also rely on her teammates’ amazing support. What do you think of the fandom name for Rose Zhang? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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