“Everything Changed Too Fast” — Rose Zhang Fuels Retirement Rumours With Cryptic Comments About Her Future
In a post-round interview following a disappointing final round at the Grant Thornton Invitational on December 14, 2025, where she and partner Michael Kim finished tied for fifth, Rose Zhang dropped enigmatic remarks that have sent shockwaves through the golf world. The 22-year-old American star, once hailed as the future of women’s golf, alluded to the overwhelming pace of change in her life with the phrase “everything changed too fast,” leaving fans and analysts speculating about potential retirement or a significant step back from the LPGA Tour.
Zhang’s 2025 season has been marred by inconsistency and limited play, a far cry from her explosive professional debut in 2023 when she won the Mizuho Americas Open in her first start as a pro—the first to achieve that feat since 1951. After a strong 2024 that included a second LPGA victory at the Cognizant Founders Cup and an undefeated Solheim Cup performance, expectations were sky-high. However, this year has seen her struggle to recapture that form, with only one top-10 finish in a reduced schedule of events.
A key factor in her underwhelming performances has been the heavy academic load at Stanford University, where Zhang is pursuing a communications degree set to conclude in 2027. She admitted earlier in the season to hitting the “hard struggle bus” for the first time in her career, citing the toll of balancing 22 credits in winter quarter with professional golf demands. This led to physical issues, including neck spasms that left her immobile for two months and severely hampered her preparation.
Her driving, once a strength, has been erratic under pressure, with wayward shots costing her dearly in key moments. Approach play has lacked the precision that defined her amateur dominance—where she spent a record 141 weeks as world No. 1—and her iron shots frequently missed greens, forcing scrambling efforts that rarely paid off. On the greens, Zhang’s putting stroke appeared tentative, missing several makeable birdie chances that could have contended in tournaments like the FM Championship, where a late charge fizzled despite a tie for fifth.
The Grant Thornton Invitational highlighted these shortcomings. Despite praising partner Michael Kim’s support and showing flashes of her ball-striking brilliance, Zhang’s scoring rounds were plagued by bogeys on par-5s and failed conversions from prime positions. Her body language suggested frustration, and the post-event comments about rapid life changes—transitioning from Stanford standout to global sensation while juggling injuries and studies—only amplified concerns.
While Zhang has invested in the sport’s future as a minority owner in TGL’s Bay Golf Club and expressed excitement about LPGA growth, her cryptic reflections raise questions about burnout. At just 22, with two LPGA wins already under her belt, retirement seems premature, but the mental and physical strain of “everything changing too fast” cannot be ignored. As the offseason begins, the golf community awaits clarity on whether Zhang will return full-time in 2026 or prioritize life beyond the fairways.
