PEBBLE BEACH (Calif.) – Rose Zhang didn’t think about Gary Woodlands’ shot on the 17 th hole at Pebble Beach as she faced a chip shot similar to that of Woodlands from the putting surface in the front right section of the green. Zhang’s chip shot was 53 feet away from the hole. Woodlands’ second shot, which won him the U.S. Open 2019, was 93 feet. She saved par by nestling it down to a foot.
Zhang’s agent showed the video to her after the round. “Oh my god, what a crazy thing,” she said.
Zhang had chipped off the putting surfaces at Stanford’s practice facilities many times, but she hadn’t tried it in a competition.
Zhang said, “I knew that right was not the place to miss.” Once I knew where my ball was I didn’t think of putting it. It was a great shot. “It was a little risky but I thought that shot was the best of the day.”
This one is best left to the professionals.
@rosezhang #USWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/H7k6PfbeBX
U.S. Women’s Open July 7, 2020
Zhang’s 74 on the first hole puts her six behind leaders Xiyu Li and Hyo Joo Ko. The par-4 8th hole was her biggest mistake of the day. She lost the ball in the cliffs, and ended up making double.
Zhang, the betting favorite going into the week enjoyed a large crowd on the front nine which included her mother and older brother. Zhang’s father is always watching her, but her mother is rarely seen and Bill, her older brother, was the first to see her in person on Thursday.
Zhang’s brother said, “He doesn’t play golf.” He thinks golf is too slow for him. He’s — yeah, I think he never found it interesting to watch me. He’s watched me on television, so he is cheering me on. “At least I know that he is supporting me.”
Zhang has already had a week full of firsts. After she had hit a shot on the par-3 7th, Zhang’s tee fell into her pocket. Callaway posted the video and the fans were able to see what happened.
The video quickly became viral. Zhang called it an “unintended spell.”
She said, “That is a video I will save forever.” “I don’t think I could ever do that again.”
