Rose Zhang has always had an air of effortless grace, never appearing to exert much effort, whether she was dominating the amateur golf scene or managing her academic responsibilities at Stanford while competing on the LPGA Tour. The accolades and pressure seemed secondary to her. However, since turning professional in 2023, she has discovered the intense demands of the LPGA, which can take a toll over time.
In an interview with InsideHook, Zhang remarked, “I don’t have a lot of weeks in between tournaments anymore. I’m always playing and on the go.” Balancing professional golf with her studies has proven to be a challenge for the 21-year-old. Throughout last season, while cameras captured her sharp iron shots and calm demeanor, many overlooked the subtle indications of strain, like her stretching between swings, which hinted at a deeper story.
Zhang recently shared on Instagram her decision to withdraw from the JM Eagle LA Championship due to a persistent neck injury that has affecting her performance. She stated, “Safe to say, things haven’t been too hot for me in the golf realm, and I found myself struggling to compete in high spirits due to an injury. Just remember, this isn’t a sob story😂.”
In her post, Zhang expressed optimism despite her current frustrations, saying, “While this period is unique and frustrating, I find great optimism in getting better and working hard to compete at the highest level.” Competing on the tour while pursuing a communications degree at Stanford has not been without its challenges, leading her to miss various tournaments.
Zhang has had to skip events such as her title defense at the Founders Cup and the LPGA’s Asian swing. She spoke about how the increased competition schedule has had a physical impact, noting, “The swing does a lot. The body isn’t really built to be rotating so much.” She elaborated on how the tightness in her muscles has contributed to her neck and upper body issues.
After withdrawing from two matches during pool play at the T-Mobile Match-Play, broadcasters speculated about her upper-body injury, which Zhang later confirmed was indeed an issue with her neck. She remarked, “I had a problem last week and then it like just extended to this week,” emphasizing the ongoing nature of her struggles.
As Zhang takes this time to recover, she finds comfort in her faith, quoting Romans 5:1-4 about how suffering can lead to perseverance and hope. Her recent withdrawal from the JM Eagle event has drawn support from fellow golfers and fans alike. Comments from fellow pros like Jeeno Thitikul and Gina Kim show a strong community backing Zhang as she navigates this challenging moment in her career.
