The 78th US Women’s Open is just hours away from kicking off at the prestigious Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. This year, 10-time major winner and legend Annika Sorenstam is also part of the 156-player field and will be teeing off at the sea-hugging course alongside many current-day LPGA stars.

One golfing sensation that is a heavy favorite to win the title this year is Rose Zhang, and even Sorenstam had high praise for the young trailblazer on Wednesday. Let’s dive in to find out more!

Annika Sorenstam acknowledges Rose Zhang’s impact on the game of golf

By winning the Mizuho Americas Open in New Jersey last month, Rose Zhang sent shockwaves through the golf world. The victory that saw Zhang become the first golfer in 72 years to win on her LPGA debut came after her incredibly dominant career as an amateur.

Even Annika Sorenstam, one of the best golfers in history, has now acknowledged the impact of the 20-year-old prodigy on the game. “I think she’s already brought quite a bit of things to the game,” said the 52-year-old in a press conference ahead of the US Women’s Open. “But just look at her amateur career. She has done so well.”

Before turning pro, Zhang had spent a record 141 weeks as the No. 1 player in the amateur world ranking. Her career as an amateur player not only saw Zhang collect numerous wins and honors but also saw her surpass a record set by none other than Tiger Woods!

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“To go out there as really a dominant amateur, to win NCAAs, to win at Augusta, she has just literally won everything you can win,” said Sorenstam. “So the pressure is there, everybody is looking at her, and then to go out and win her first event on the LPGA, it just doesn’t get much better than that.” In the past, the Swedish icon has presented Zhang with the ANNIKA Award twice for her stunning college career.

Sorenstam, who last claimed the US Women’s Open title in 2006, is playing the major only for the second time in 16 years. Meanwhile, this is the first time Zhang is playing in the tournament as an LPGA pro!

Rose Zhang opens up about her first goal before teeing off at Pebble Beach

Last month, at the Women’s PGA Championship, Rose Zhang fell short of a major win by mere inches. She ended up finishing T8 at Baltusrol, three strokes behind eventual winner Ruoning Yin. Now, days later, at the historic Pebble Beach course, Zhang has the chance to remedy the loss.

The young golfer, however, is focused on taking things one step at a time. At the pre-tournament presser, the world No. 45 said that she is currently hoping to make it into the final two rounds of the event. “Well, in order to be in contention and play well, you have to make the cut first, right? So that is the first goal,” confessed Zhang.

The US Women’s Open field, which boasts 156 players, will be reduced to the top 60 players and ties after 36 holes. This year, the tournament has a groundbreaking prize purse of $11 million, out of which the winner will take home $2 million in earnings!

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Do you think Rose Zhang will be able to win the 2023 US Women’s Open title? Which golfer are you rooting for this year? Tell us in the comments!