The golf world has found a new star in Rose Zhang. Her sensational professional debut, which came after a benchmark-setting amateur career, has earned her praise from and comparisons to none other than Tiger Woods. During his peak days, it was Woods’ distinct style and approach to the game that gave him a considerable edge over his competitors. The same can now be said for Zhang!
The rising LPGA sensation’s unique golfing moves have now become the talk of the town. After her third-round performance at Pebble Beach, the young golfer opened up about one of her standout techniques and people’s reactions to it!
LPGA phenom Rose Zhang sheds light on her unique golfing technique
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Rose Zhang, just 20 years old, has already secured her place in the golf history books. Last month, at the Mizuho Americas Open, she became the first player in 72 years to win on her LPGA debut! After besting a stacked field at the tournament, she then made a stop at the Baltusrol Golf Club for the Women’s PGA Championship, where she recorded an impressive top-10 finish.
Currently, the ex-Stanford prodigy is on the hunt for her first major title at the Pebble Beach Golf Links and has already displayed several brilliant moments at the iconic venue over the past three rounds. However, one of her distinctive tactics at the tournament has made the golf world extremely curious.
After she opens the face of her wedge and swings, Zhang often tends to release one hand from the grip at the finish. Mostly, this leads to the shot landing nearly 10 feet from the pin. The golfer was finally asked about this method at the third-round conference of the US Women’s Open. “My teammates give me so much c**p for it,” Zhang confessed.
“It’s just like I sometimes top it, I sometimes chunk a little bit, and it’s not the best contact, so I don’t know where this ball is going to go,” explained the LPGA pro. “That’s why it’s usually the one-handed finish that I end up having and resorting to when I’m out there.”
Zhang shot an even-par 72 on Saturday to tie for the ninth position at one over. She is currently eight back of solo leader Nasa Hataoka.
Nasa Hataoka leads, and Rose Zhang is tied for the ninth spot
While most golfers struggled due to the tough conditions at Pebble Beach on Saturday, LPGA star Nasa Hataoka fared much better. Despite the windy weather, she ended up carding a 6-under 66 for a one-shot lead at the top! The 6-time LPGA winner’s round was bogey-free, and her score was nearly nine shots better than the field average!
Second-placed Allisen Corpuz, who shot a 71, is one of the ten players who broke par on day three. She will be playing alongside Hataoka in the same group on Sunday. Meanwhile, Bailey Tardy, who had a two-shot lead at the end of 36 holes, shot a 75 to tie for 3rd place with Hyo Joo Kim (73). Jiyai Shin (70) and Hae Ran Ryu (73), who finished five behind Hataoka, were the only other players who were under par.
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Fan-favorite Rose Zhang had a golden chance to get to 3-under until she missed a 4-foot birdie on the 7th. She didn’t make another birdie, eventually settling for a 72.
As the US Women’s Open enters its final round, fans can expect a great number of thrilling moments. This year, the major features a record $12 million purse, out of which the winner stands to take home a jaw-dropping $2 million!
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What do you think of Rose Zhang’s special technique? Who do you think will win the US Women’s Open this time around? Tell us in the comments below!