In the relatively small but elite orbit of college golf, one name shines particularly bright: Rose Zhang.
A student at Stanford University in California, she has emerged as a force.
Notoriously rigorous, Stanfords environment provided her with an opportunity to excel both academically and athletically.
Courtesy of Getty Images / Design by Channing Smith
And, even as shes gone pro, she is committed to finishing her degree.
Together they explore the values that drive her both on and off the course.
Michelle Wie West: First off, congratulations!
Whats the one thing that you wish more people knew about student-athlete life?
Rose Zhang:That its very taxing on the body and the mind.
No matter what sport, every day has a full schedule.
The sacrifice that we put into our daily lives is really unparalleled.
There are so many.
I cant even begin to describe it.
And that entire week was really taxing.
That ultimately shifted me toward the mindset of: I can do bigger and better things.
Damn, I didnt realize you won the US Womens Amateur in 38 holes.
So lets talk about what empowers you.
Whats the one thing that makes you feel empowered on and off the field?
My inner circle of friends on campus and off campus.
Regardless of how I do, they treat me the exact same.
Golf, obviously, as you know, is a crazy mental sport.
Theres tons of ups and downs.
In those moments of downs, how do you overcome feelings of inadequacy?
Shifting gears or having a mindset of unconditional love and kindness for yourself is very important.
Easier said than done.
You talk about your village a lot.
Whats the best piece of advice that your friends in college have given you?
I feel like Im pretty naturally humble by nature, but they definitely keep me grounded.
They love to tease me, and I love that about them.
It makes my environment a lot more free and a lot more authentic.
So for them to say, Hey, take a step back.
I would encourage them to put themselves out there a little bit.
When youre on campus, everyone wants to get to know each other, friends, all that.
But you cant know unless you put yourself a little bit out there.
Dont be afraid to make mistakes.
Thats kind of what college is for, right before you head out to the real world.
Its a stepping stone.
It seems like you adjusted really well, really fast.
You found your footing with your team.
How did you overcome those hurdles to get you to where you are right now?
The biggest challenge for me was managing my body.
They have a system; they have a regimented schedule.
But once youre on campus, things throw you off a little bit more.
You have to balance school.
Its not just a place where you might simply play your sport and be done with the day.
You still have to go back and study, and you still have to socialize.
I think you should take a step back.
I wholeheartedly agree with that.
So now I want to ask you some fun questions.
Whats your go-to pump-up song before you tee off?
The remix version of Pumped Up Kicks.
Whats your go-to beauty essentials?
And all I can say is Neutrogena 70 SPF.
Favorite class youre taking right now.
One of my most enjoyable classes.
Whats the one thing that really surprised you about Stanford?
That everyones so high-achieving but, at the same time, human.
They already have start-ups.
They dont know what theyre doing for the most part, and they all work hard.
So I think everyone being very personable was pretty shocking to me.
Go play your practice round now!
