Stanford golf star Rose Zhang is set to make her LPGA debut

The GIST: Twenty-year-old golfer Rose Zhang is a Stanford Cardinal, a Hello Kitty fan, and, as of tomorrow, the most exciting amateur to turn pro since Tiger Woods. This may be the first time you’re hearing this prodigy’s name, but it certainly won’t be the last.

The background: Last week, Zhang made history as the first collegiate women’s golfer to win back-to-back national titles. Her 12 tournament wins at Stanford broke a school record held by the aforementioned Woods. And did we mention she did it as a sophomore? A sophomore who notably also snagged Adidas’ first name, image and likeness (NIL) deal.

• But that’s not surprising, considering Zhang has been the No. 1 World Amateur Golfer since 2020. She did shock the world shortly after winning her second natty, though, when she announced she was forfeiting her last two years of NCAA eligibility to turn pro.

What’s next: Zhang is expected to make her LPGA debut in the Mizuho Americas Open, which tees off tomorrow from Jersey City, New Jersey, and compete in all four of this summer’s majors.

• Although the golf world is eager to crown their next superstar, Zhang is keeping her own expectations low. After all, once this weekend’s tourney wraps up, she has three final exams to take.