Q&A: Rose Zhang about her TGL investment, the future of the LPGA and the slow game

There are many things to admire about Rose Zhang. Before she became Pro two years ago, she was demonstrably the winning amateur in the history of the Gulf of Women. Now she competes at the LPGA and already has a few professional victories at the age of 21. Zhang is just as balanced as they become and her childhood – combined with a swing that can make a robot look inconsistent – has enabled her to become one of the faces of the Gen -Z movement of the game.

Zhang does it all while he goes to Stanford University as a communication major, who takes 22 credits this winter (she completes a quarter of 10 weeks every year to balance school with the international LPGA schedule). While Zhang finishes her third to the penultimate quarter of the classes on the way to a graduation date of 2027, she caught up Athletics To talk about the state of the LPGA, her adapted pre -season plan and her new trip to the simulator experiment from Golf. Zhang is now a minority investor in the Bay Golf Club, the San Francisco team of TGL. According to TGL, active discussions are taking place with the LPGA to come up with matches that can integrate female players. With virtual holes, players in a mixed event could all touch the same tee boxes with the technology that adapts to suitable distances. The prospect of that regulation is certainly tempting and Zhang is intrigued, for example.

This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.

You are the newest investor in TGL. How did that come about?

I had heard about it on social media, but I never really thought about becoming an investor. My desk brought me the chance. It is low commitment to me because I am not the one who plays there. It is cool to be on the investment side of things, at least this is one of the first things I have invested in the golf world. The Bay Area has played a major role in my life and career. I am a student athlete in Stanford, I play a lot of golf in the city of SF and I can be part of it in a more meaningful way. To see other athletes such as Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala makes it even more amazing. It will be cool to watch the team on TV and say, “Oh, I have a small part of that!” Not really … but I do. I was also emotionally invested in it.

Have you viewed a lot of TGL?

With the cool technology and the indoor facility, I have given an energy that even non-golfers can enjoy. I think it is a very good platform to expose different parts of the game, show the personalities of people and to have a little fun. Some of my non -wave friends are like: “Oh, this thing is like a whole stadium and you play indoors? What does that even mean?” You have all these crazy lights – it actually changes to a show. It is a good source of entertainment for those who are not exposed to it. You don’t get to see the personalities of golfers because we don’t talk. The entertaining side of all this is that players are aware and can communicate with fans and each other. People like to see competition and companionship, but a kind of flare for every personality.

Should LPGA players be part of TGL?

I think that is a subject for discussion. That would certainly be very interesting. It brings a lot of variation with the size it is – indoor golf, a versus one or team versus team. Having diversity brings this kind of platform to life. I can certainly see the LPGA jump on it on board, with specific players participating in a TGL event. I played “The Match” with Rory Mcilroy, Lexi Thompson and Max Homa. It is similar to that, but it is indoors and indoors, so it’s a fair game for everyone. I think many people don’t understand, there are many characters on the LPGA Tour. You have many people with personalities who are so suitable for this type of format.

Who should recruit TGL from the LPGA?

We are talking about popular characters here. To begin with, I would like to see Meghan Khang jump there. She knows how to talk, that’s for sure. Charley Hull is a world famous name, it would be really entertaining to see what she is doing. If you want really good players, you have Lydia Ko, you have Nelly Korda.

You made your seasonal debut at the HGV tournament of champions and posted on T10 finish, but we know that that was just a break of your winter studies in Stanford. How did you treat you out of season?

It has been much more academic than real wave. I am excited, I do many cool projects. I organize an AJGA event. I focused on school, hanging out with friends and with people I have not been able to hang out for the past two years. It is really nice to have some binding time and just enjoy the low season a little more. It is a routine, since I am still in balance of academics and golf. But the gravel challenges me honestly.

What lessons do you follow this semester?

I take a policy of algorithms, deliberative democracy and her critics, a Hebrew Jewish short story class, a class of science technology and society and a class called Sleep and Dreams. It is a cognitive science lesson. You get bonus points when you fall asleep in the lecture. You wake up by a spray gun.

Have you deliberately decided to take a step back from golf and throw yourself to school this year?

Certainly. Especially with last year I was able to balance golf and school, but my social life was put off a bit. I had a lot of trouble balancing myself and my health, physically. It was a bit difficult to navigate in that sense. This year I was much more intentional. I follow 22 lessons. That is a big load for every student. I decided essentially to finish my academics and prioritize that, and when I could rest and restore it was when I could spend time with people. Just be a little lower maintenance, so if I start playing at the end of March, I am not completely tired and swept away from the past three months. It has been a lot better. I personally want to prepare the best way I can start in March. With a super long season, my priority is to rest a bit more.

What have some of that hiccup been in your health?

Everything is stacked in itself. I practiced a lot of intense at school and I also had a lot of lessons. I also just went at full speed in the season. I spread myself a little thin in practice and the way I did things. Towards the end of the year I had this recurring thing with my wrist that started in 2020, and it just came back. I don’t want it to stay chronic, so that’s a priority. I am slowly starting to load my wrist again to ensure that it is strong. You can go to physiotherapy and have the inflammation dissolved, but to strengthen it or at least bring it back to normal performance, you have to do circuits that restrain resistance and weight. That will bring me where I want to be.

Do you have changes to the mindset or goals that you hope to make in 2025?

The number 1 that I have in mind – and I talked about it with my whole team – is that I just want to make sure that I am deliberately with the things I have done and the schedule I stand with them. I want to remain responsible for balancing everything and actually doing everything. Make sure that I go through training with my trainer, let my body rest and relax, give myself times that I can work with my coach and practice efficiently. I made a schedule for myself and I just want to go with that. So if things happen on tour and there is a lot going on, I have a plan to fall back. Last year I was wrong in the way I prepared myself at events. So that is the most important priority this year. I’m not worried about the results. If you can plan the process and go with it, the results will come.

Do you find comfort when sticking to a process?

I find freedom in it. Once you know that you have a process that you have put together, then you have a little more desk to at least think about whether you should deviate plans. I did a little too much to go here, go there – not to fulfill my priorities.

You started using Aimpoint this fall. Has it helped you and how has the process been to learn it?

I actually started using it at the Annika, and that week my best put week was on tour so far. I feel very encouraged by it. It is clear that I still have to do some practice. I really believe it helped me a lot, especially with my self -confidence. And the slow -play -thing -if you do well, it doesn’t slide other people. As long as you are polite, that is the biggest thing.

Zhang changed her routine at the end of last year and switched to the Aimpoint strategy. (Julio Aguilar / Getty images)

Speaking of Slow Play, the LPGA has issued a new Slow Play policy. Do you think the Tour has a slow playing problem?

It was absolutely expressed by many players. We take a lot of time waiting, especially on par 5s and par 3s. It slows down your day and it slows down things for those who look. At the end of the day I think it is up to players to create their routine so that they are not the slow player there is. There are players who are struggling with it, which I understand. I am just happy that the LPGA has this regulation for everyone to follow. I am not really a fast player, but I am becoming paranoid of being slow. I grew up playing Junior Golf on the AJGA and you get these red cards if you are slow.

The LPGA is looking for a new commissioner. What should their top priorities be?

There is a difficult balance in the business aspect of golf and the actual competitive world of Golf, so I understand how challenging it is. The largest thing I would like to do the new commissioner is to give at least communication or at least clear communication for what they are planning to do and what you want to pass on to the players. You have to grow the LPGA through involvement, through deals, through sponsorship. This requires a lot of EQ and requires a lot of intelligence in that sense. I would say that the new commissioner really has to embody those basic things that can really raise the LPGA. It’s not easy. They must also have the best interests of the players, which is a nice line to tackle. That is why I say that communication is super key. If the players understand where the business mind comes from, they may want to criticize things, but they would also be good with things if they at least have a voice that can tell them what is going on. That’s the biggest thing.

Do you think the LPGA does enough to promote its stars?

I don’t believe it. I speak for many players who also believe that. The reason is that I think that characters are needed to really show what the tour is about – to tell people a story or something to go with. The LPGA tried it. I don’t think it doesn’t happen. They are busy creating more involvement for LPGA players to be exposed to the public. There are already characters on tours who are willing to fill those shoes. To be honest, it’s just just the strategic side of things. Expose them to platforms, media and other people. Many players are already willing to do this. You must have both ends of the stick. The player who is willing to place himself there, and a tour that is willing to push you out. There are many initiatives behind the scenes. I am not discouraged because they do nothing, it is more, so they haven’t done much yet.

(Top photo: Cliff Hawkins / Getty images)