Rose Zhang was unquestionably the star of this year’s Solheim Cup, with the youngster winning all four of her matches at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club as USA won the trophy for the first time since 2017.
Rose Zhang was perhaps one of the players with a bit of a point to prove after her debut performance at the Solheim Cup back in 2023. The 21-year-old was the final player to qualify automatically for Stacy Lewis’ team ahead of Finca Cortesin, but she would not have the easiest time in Spain.
Zhang took just half a point from her three matches, losing to Leona Maguire in the singles as the event ended in the tie which saw Europe retain the cup. But her performance this time around could have hardly been more different.
Zhang won all four of her matches, finishing as the top points scorer in Gainesville. Remarkably, she did not play beyond the 16th hole at any stage throughout the week. And it was a real statement that she beat Carlota Ciganda so comfortably in the singles, winning 6&4 against the Spaniard, who, so often, has been one of Europe’s best fighters.
Rose Zhang explains the big difference between her two Solheim Cup appearances
So there could have hardly been a bigger contrast between Zhang’s two appearances so far. And speaking ahead of the Kroger Queen City Championship, she explained that she had a completely different mindset after almost trying too hard to make an impact one year ago.
“100 percent. When I was selected for Solheim last year it just came so quick, especially with just turning pro that summer and also playing Solheim that same summer,” she said.
“I felt as if I was a little bit out of place and I wanted to do my best, so I put a lot of pressure to try and perform. That took a little bit of the fun part out of it.
“This year, with a year under my belt, I was able to really let loose a little and become more comfortable with the team around me. And the team, it’s been a little bit different this year where everyone was just collectively having such a good time. Caddies were letting loose and staying loose for us.
“So we all just had such an amazing time. That’s what we’d been commenting as well in the team room, so it’s been really high vibes, which allowed me to go out there and just have a good time.”
A much-needed reminder of her world-class potential
Zhang should take a lot of confidence from her performance after a mixed year. She did win the Cognizant Founders Cup in remarkable fashion earlier this season, with her and Madelene Sagstrom absolutely leaving the rest of the field behind before having a shootout between themselves.
But her displays in the majors have been underwhelming, with two missed cuts and no top 25 finishes throughout the year. Zhang had finished in the top 10 on three occasions in the sport’s five biggest events in 2023.
If there was any doubt, last week at the Solheim Cup showed that she is most definitely a superstar with the game to take that next step.
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