There are a few things in common between the young LPGA phenom Rose Zhang and the golfing legend Tiger Woods. The two golfers have highly decorated amateur golfing careers, and both belong to Stanford University. Moreover, both have had incredible starts to their pro careers. However, despite the similarities, there is one significant difference between the pair!

The young golfing prodigy is often regarded as the next ‘Tiger Woods’. But as per her recent statement, it seems like she doesn’t want to walk the same path as the 82-times PGA Tour champion did. After all, she does not want to regret her decision later in life, like Tiger Woods did.

Rose Zhang does not want to repeat what Tiger Woods did after turning pro

It goes without saying that Zhang is one of the most decorated amateur golfers and the only one to win two consecutive NCAA individual titles. Other than this, after turning pro, the 20-year-old won her debut event, the Mizuho Americas Open, in a sudden play-off against Jennifer Kupcho, becoming the first golfer in 72 years to win her debut event. The golfer has been able to finish in the top 10 in the two majors that followed her first pro win, and currently she is in France competing at the Amundi Evian Championship.

The golfer recently spoke with CNN and said that she wanted to be known for her professional career and her education as well. She wanted to take this “extra step” and do this difficult thing of pursuing her degree in Communication, and her professional career together. She shared that many people were “shaky” about her decision, but this is what she felt was necessary for her in order to be an independent person.

The Stanford star did not want to burn out in her career at a later stage, and wanted to be identified as something more than a golfer. Talking about what motivated her to be better, she said, “Just being a college golfer and being around people my age, being inspired by how incredible they are in their own right—that’s really what pushed me to become better on my own.”

Read More: ‘Every Single Player Has Their Own Struggles’: Rose Zhang Honestly Confesses About Tiger Woods’ Alma Mater Team and Their Hurdles

The one-time LPGA Tour winner’s decision is different from Woods’, as he did not continue his degree from Stanford after turning professional, and regarded this as one of the things the golfer wished he had done differently. 

Woods shared the biggest regret of his life

Within two years of getting into Stanford, Woods turned professional after an exciting amateur career. Though his record was surpassed by Zhang’s, his contribution to men’s golf has been extraordinary.

In an old interview, he revealed that his biggest regret in life was not spending one more year at Stanford. He said during the interview that he wished he would have stayed that one additional year at the university and juggled his professional career and degree. Woods did not complete his Economics degree, and just pursued two years of education.

As Zhang is teeing it up in France, her eyes are on the prestigious Solheim Cup, and she wishes to make the team. What do you think of Zhang’s decision regarding her education? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

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