WATCH: Solheim Cup Pressure Doesn’t Seem to Touch Rose Zhang as She Appears All Cheery With Fellow Patriot

The Solheim Cup is a ruthless tournament. The biennial event that pits the best of Europe against the best of the USA demands a stringent commitment from the players. So buckling under pressure is not uncommon, and for a youngster like Rose Zhang, it’s doubly hard. However, the LPGA star seems to make it look like a walk in the park!

Despite crashing like a meteorite in golf, winning back-to-back titles, and breaking and making multiple records, Zhang is still a Solheim Cup ‘rookie’ and still a college student. But her equanimity makes the juggling act—managing her studies and being a pro golfer—look easy. And now, ahead of the prestigious tournament, the one-time LPGA winner’s innovative interaction with her former teammate will surely convince you that she has mastered the art of ‘taking it easy’ even at the moment of highest pressure.

Rose Zhang flaunts her teammate bond ahead of the international face-off this week

An outstanding career as an amateur saw Zhang break a slew of records before turning pro early this year. As a pro, she won her debut LPGA Tour, the Mizuho Americas Open, in June, becoming only the second female golfer to ever do so and the first in the last seven decades.

The US team at this year’s Solheim Cup has no dearth of star players. A line-up that boasts heavyweights like Stacy Lewis, Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang, and Zhang is just a debutant. However, already dubbed the next Tiger Woods because of her past performances, it’s the 20-year-old golf prodigy who hogs much of the limelight. But make no mistake, Zhang is not one to get carried away amidst all the pressure.

Now, ahead of the Solheim Cup, she is seen showing off her handshaking skill at the prestigious event’s venue in Spain with her fellow Cardinal teammate Caroline Sturdza. Through the amateur golfer’s Instagram story, captioned “We back,” fans can see how Zhang looked all bubbly bonding with her former Stanford teammate as she shook hands in style and then hugged her.

Sturdza herself was part of the Standford Women’s Golf Team that won the Carmel Cup earlier this month. She was also Zhang’s teammate for the Cardinals in her breakout 2022–23 season, where they went on to win the NCAA championship. It’s safe to say that this isn’t the LPGA star’s first time in a metaphorical pressure cooker, so this begs the question: how then does she cope with it all?

So, what’s the secret to Zhang’s composure?

Zhang has been part of the Junior Solheim Cup twice, in 2017 and 2019. Both times, Team USA triumphed over Europe to take the trophy home. Speaking of which, in a press conference, she said, “I’m excited for the energy. I think I’ve been a part of two Junior Solheim Cups now, and I’ve witnessed the first tee shots of all the groups on the first day.”

Read More: Days Ahead of Sharing the Patriotic Burden, Rose Zhang Follows in the Steps of Nelly Korda to Leave Zero Room for Sloppy Blunders

Being part of the junior team and witnessing the seniors’ players from up close undoubtedly would have instilled confidence in Zhang. Incidentally, her current teammates Andrea Lee and Nelly Korda also played at the Solheim Cup at the junior level and excelled in them. Perhaps this shared past will add to their bond and help them dish out a brilliant performance on the greens.

In sports, individuals find success when they learn the delicate act of balancing between mounting expectations heaped on their shoulders and a burning desire for personal success at their heart. Zhang, at the young age of 20, seems to have mastered that art!

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