Rose Zhang, the betting favorite for the U.S. Women’s Open, endured a horrendous travel odyssey to arrive at Pebble Beach

Jul, 2023

Rose Zhang has not had a typical professional career. In only her third career start, Rose Zhang is the betting favorite for her first U.S. Women’s Open. The modest Zhang is ranked at 12/1 by several sportsbooks. She takes it all with ease.

Zhang, who is a member of Golf Channel’s Live From set located just off the 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links, said: “It’s an honor to be considered a betting favourite.” It’s a great feeling. I never would have imagined that this was my position when I started out last month. “I still have low expectations about what I will do on the stage.”

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Zhang, who is a 12-time Stanford winner, stated at the beginning of the Mizuho LPGA Classic, that she just wanted to make it through her first professional round. She became the first woman since Beverly Hanson, in 1951, to win her first LPGA tournament. She said the same thing about making the KPMG Women’s PGA in Balustrol where she competed late on Sunday, tied for eighth.

Annika Sorenstam stated that Zhang, a 2-time winner of the ANNIKA Award is already raising level of play in the LPGA.

Sorenstam said, “I believe the attention is well-deserved.” She knows what it’s like to be in the spotlight. “I’m sure she will bring a lot of energy to the game.”

Zhang is not the favorite because she has the best amateur record in modern golf or that she played so well in her two pro starts. What makes her the favorite this week is what she has already achieved on a course few women know about.

Zhang made miles of putts as she hit 18 greens at Pebble Beach Golf Links in the fall of last year, when she shot a course record 63. She called it a’stripeshow’ and a a a ‘pretty dreamy weekend.

Zhang had grand plans for how she would prepare her game to compete in this week’s championship, but like many others at KPMG she was having trouble getting home. Her flight home from Philadelphia after a Monday golf outing at Merion Golf Club was cancelled. The plane had been grounded for several hours. When she rebooked her flight, there were no more rooms in the city. She slept in the lobby at an Embassy Suites at 2 am.

Zhang then took an Uber back to Baltimore but that flight was also cancelled. She then traveled to Atlantic City where she joined her Excel team on a private plane with Travis Kelce who was heading to Las Vegas to attend The match. Kelce was on Jersey Shore with his brother for a charity event.

Zhang finally made it to Los Angeles, despite losing several days’ preparation work, on Wednesday evening.

She said, “I was tired.” “My back was really sore… I sat the entire two days.”

Zhang practiced with her childhood friends for three to four hours a day, every day the rest of the following week.

The Stanford alumna played nine holes on Tuesday with Stanford graduate Michelle Wie West. This is Wie West’s last event before she officially retires from the sport.

Zhang said, “She is incredible.” “This is the last stretch for her, and I feel honored to have been a part of that.”

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