The thing about Rose Zhang is—she never really looked like she was trying. Even when she was dominating amateur circuits or juggling Stanford deadlines between LPGA tees, there was always this quiet ease about her. Like pressure was just background noise. Like the wins and accolades were incidental. But every so often, the façade of calm cracks just enough to remind you—she’s human, and barely 21.
Last season, as cameras followed her crisp iron shots and signature composure, few noticed the moments between swings—when she’d stretch her neck or flex her wrist, subtly, almost instinctively. Those tiny gestures told a different story, one that’s now come into full view. Because behind the polished interviews and polite smiles, Zhang has been walking a tightrope—between ambition and exhaustion, excellence and overexertion.
“A lot of people were a bit shaky about it … but I felt like it was necessary for me to take that extra step, for me to be my own independent person.” These words, spoken by Zhang in 2023, shed light on the challenges she’s faced in balancing her golf career with her academic pursuits. The 21-year-old LPGA golfer has been navigating a unique path, competing on the tour while also pursuing her communications degree at Stanford University. This decision hasn’t been without its hurdles, as Zhang has had to skip tournaments, including her title defense at the Founders Cup, and miss the LPGA’s Asian swing. Her journey highlights the difficulties of juggling professional golf with personal goals, as well as the fear of burnout that can come with it.
And the burnout sometimes gets so bad it’s almost unbearable. For Rose Zhang, the pressure to perform on the golf course has taken a toll, and a nagging neck injury has forced her to take a step back. She recently announced that she will be pulling out of this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship to focus on her recovery. “It’s been a bit disappointing as I processed a little bit of the last couple weeks on and off the golf course. 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 ,” she shared, being refreshingly honest about her struggles.
Despite the setbacks, Zhang remains optimistic about her future in golf. “While this period is unique and frustrating, I find great optimism in getting better and working hard to compete at the highest level,” she said, highlighting her determination to overcome her challenges. With the support of her team, sponsors, family, and friends, Zhang is focused on recovery and getting back to doing what she loves. “It’s going to be a long and patient ride, but it’s always a blessing to do what I do and have what I have,” she noted.
As Zhang navigates this difficult time, her faith provides comfort and guidance. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope,” she quoted from Romans 5:1-4, reminding herself that challenges can be opportunities for growth. And well, whatever comes her way, Zhang can sleep peacefully at night, knowing that her fans and fellow golfers are always there for her.
Pros and netizens shower support on Rose Zhang amid her latest withdrawal
Let’s start off strong with what LPGA Pro Jeeno Thitikul commented, “Always be here”, while another LPGA golfer Gina Kim wrote, “You got this Rosie! Keep fighting.” And fight is exactly what Rose Zhang has been doing since last year. Earlier this year, she opened up about her unique approach to balancing golf and academics. Unlike last year’s grueling schedule, which saw her taking 20 units of classes at Stanford while maintaining her usual practice routine, Zhang has taken a more relaxed approach this time around.
“I didn’t really take care of myself,” Zhang said, reflecting on her previous year’s schedule, which left her losing sleep over challenging classes. This time, she’s prioritizing sleep and self-care, even taking a class on sleep to learn more about its importance. “You get bonus points if you fall asleep in class,” Zhang joked about her sleep class, where students are playfully “squirted” with a water gun if they doze off.
One fan said, “Hope you recover quickly and safely ”, while the other said, “You got this, Rosie heal up, champ!” Well, healing is exactly what Zhang needs right now. Just last month, Zhang revealed the struggles she’s faced with a wrist injury she’s been playing through since 2020, a surprising admission given her impressive array of achievements, including winning the US Women’s Amateur and becoming the World No. 1 Amateur.
“I was just not being smart,” Zhang acknowledged, explaining that she sustained the injury by practicing extensively on thin mats in her parents’ garage as a junior in high school. “There were no classes either. It was online. I was a junior in high school. I had nothing better to do. Not good.” To manage the pain, she would take four Advils daily, but eventually developed wrist impingement, which caught up with her. “It didn’t really do well with my left wrist. It seemed like I got tendinitis and then it became wrist impingement,” she said.
One fan commented something that perhaps everyone was thinking while reading Zhang’s post, “Praying for you! ” And with her latest withdrawal from the upcoming tournament, the golfer has made it clear that her health is her priority right now. What are your thoughts on Zhang’s latest decision? Let us know in the comment section below!
The post ‘Always Be Here’: LPGA Pros Console Injured Rose Zhang as 21-Year-Old Details Hardships in Lengthy Post appeared first on EssentiallySports.
