![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-06-25T230810Z_128864006_MT1USATODAY20949370_RTRMADP_3_LPGA-KPMG-WOMEN-S-PGA-CHAMPIONSHIP-FINAL-ROUND.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Jun 25, 2023; Springfield, New Jersey, USA; Rose Zhang reacts after completing the 18th hole during the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-06-25T230810Z_128864006_MT1USATODAY20949370_RTRMADP_3_LPGA-KPMG-WOMEN-S-PGA-CHAMPIONSHIP-FINAL-ROUND.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Jun 25, 2023; Springfield, New Jersey, USA; Rose Zhang reacts after completing the 18th hole during the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
This year, Rose Zhang arrived on the greens first as an amateur and then as a pro and took the golf world by storm. After beating the record of Tiger Woods, she earned international recognition and, in the following days, showed that she possessed some excellent golfing talent.
It is quite clear why she is being hailed as a young prodigy. However, after a season full of tough competition, she has decided to take a hiatus and focus on her studies. While she makes her CME Championship debut, Zhang now takes a look back at her humble beginnings.
Rose Zhang takes a trip down memory lane
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
This week, Zhang is performing at the season finale of the CME Championship. There, she opened the first round with a 1-under, 7. In the second round, she improved and carded 6-under 66, which included two bogeys and eight birdies. She enters the third round tied at number 16.
At the press conference after the second round, she was asked about how she got into sports. Then the young prodigy revealed about her early days of introduction to golf. She said, “Well, I started when I was nine. I played all types of sports, but my dad basically kind of threw a club at me and was like, Try swinging it.”
She further reveals that from there, she grew up with a couple of family friends who took her out on the golf course. After that, she participated in lots of putting competitions. “I did a lot of putting competitions with my friends, and that’s how I fell in love with the game.”
And now, after having a spectacular first season on the Tour as a rookie, she has made the important decision to take a small hiatus where she will be focusing on her studies.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Zhang’s plans to go back to Stanford
Following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie West, Zhang also enrolled at the prestigious Stanford University in 2021. A few days ago, she announced that she would be taking time to go back and study in person. And for the upcoming Asia and Florida swing, she is not sure whether she will be playing or not since she will be busy with her studies.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The 20-year-old is pursuing her major in communications and plans to take five classes during Stanford’s winter quarter, taking on a loaded 22-unit schedule. She has completed half the course for her degree already, so it may not be too long before the golf world sees her back on the greens. The exact time, however, is yet to be seen!
Watch This Story – As Rose Zhang Lays the Groundwork For the Upcoming Solheim Cup, She Expresses Her Excitement Over Future Teammate’s Maiden PGA Tour Victory