The WTGL is in the process of filling out its roster of LPGA Tour stars before its debut at the end of the year. This week, we’ll be taking a look at all seven of its initial signings, starting with Rose Zhang.
Rose Zhang was one of the biggest stars in women’s golf well before turning professional. Many consider her to be not just the greatest women’s amateur player ever, but maybe the greatest amateur golfer in history, regardless of gender.
Zhang was already a top amateur in the world before her first major amateur victory, competing in the first Augusta National Women’s Amateur at only 16-years-old. That same season, 2019, Zhang was named the AJGA Girls Junior Player of the Year.
In 2020, Zhang won a thriller of a U.S. Women’s Amateur championship over fellow future LPGA Tour player Gabi Ruffels. That was also the first year Zhang reached No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. She ended the year as the top ranked amateur in the world, a feat she would achieve again in 2021 and 2022.
Zhang went on to spend two years at Stanford, where she became the first player to win the women’s golf Division 1 Individual National Championship twice. She and the Cardinal also won the team competition in 2022, but fell short in 2023. Zhang also won The Annika Award in both seasons at Stanford, which is awarded annually to the top women’s golfer in the country, essentially, the sport’s equivalent to the Heisman.
During her final season playing at Stanford, Zhang also became the third American to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, in a playoff over fellow LPGA Tour player Jenny Bae. After her sophomore year at Stanford concluded, Zhang made the decision to turn professional.
Zhang’s first LPGA Tour event couldn’t have gone better, as she won the Mizuho Americas Classic in a playoff against Jennifer Kupcho, defeating one of the strongest non-major fields on the LPGA Tour. It was the first time a player won in her professional debut on the Tour since 1951.
Zhang’s three seasons have been a bit of a mixed bag so far. She has dealt with injuries and incredibly is still continuing her studies at Stanford. She got her second LPGA Tour win in 2024, snapping Nelly Korda’s five-tournament win streak with a dominant performance at the Founders Cup. That win helped propel her up the world rankings and she earned a spot on the United States Olympic team. Zhang was in medal position following the third round, sitting in a tie for third place, but a tough final round 74 had her just off the medal stand.
Zhang has also been on two United States Solheim Cup teams, excelling in 2024 with a 4-0-0 record, helping the team take back the Cup. She is also heavily featured in AT&T’s golf marketing, appearing in many commercials that run during The Masters.
