DANA OPEN PRESENTED BY MARATHON

July 13, 2023

Rose Zhang

Highland Meadows Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, joined now by Rose Zhang. Rose, 66 on the day. Just take us through your opening round at the Dana Open.

ROSE ZHANG: Feel like it was pretty solid in general. You know, ball striking was pretty okay. When it came down to the back nine it was a little bit shaky, but overall I was really rolling my putts well.

I was able to convert some long putts for birdie and made a really clutch par putt on the par-5 coming in, so I think overall it was very solid. Hopefully I keep the momentum going.

Q. Bogey-free with five birdies. What was working so well for you?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, I think it was the putter. I was rolling it well, reading my lines well, and the speed was -- I was able to make some easy par putts.

You know, that's what have to do out here. You have to make sure you have as many opportunities for birdie as you can, and when you have those opportunities, trying to convert is pretty crucial.

So I know the scores are going to below out here. Good to be a little bit aggressive.

Q. As you got ready for this event, coming in and playing Highland Meadows, was this something you were looking to take advantage of was trying to be aggressive?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah. I haven't seen this golf course before, so this is my first time around this track. My caddie, Gilly, has been here over 26 years, so he's seen a good bit of the golf courses and seen it before its renovation, after its renovation, et cetera.

I think just having someone pretty experienced with the lies it makes me feel rest assured that I can go wherever I need to and have a good game plan while I'm at it.

For tournaments like these, it is -- I have seen it, the scores are low and all the players are the best in the world, so you bet they're going to be hitting targets and making putts.

Q. Coming off two major championships where par is really rewarded, level par is really good score, how does the mentality change when you come to an event where historically it's a race it 20-under par?

ROSE ZHANG: 100%. Well, I think the game of golf, pars are never bad. You know, when you're out here you do have to make sure that you're giving yourself as many birdie opportunities as possible. So just making sure that I'm putting the ball where I need to in the fairway, on the green, and then trying to give myself those chances I think is the most crucial.

And I've played in collegiate events this year. A lot of events require a lot of, you know, races to quote-unquote 20-under par. That dynamic I'm very familiar with, so anyone coming from behind can play well, anyone in the lead can continue to play well.

So just being sure I'm doing my own thing and playing well is basically what I'm trying to do.

Q. You mentioned this be your first impression of Highland Meadows. What was the take being out here playing your first round here, and how does that set you up for the rest of the week?

ROSE ZHANG: 100%. I love it out here. I think the course is playing fantastic. You know, everything is very pure from the greens to the tee. I think one word I would describe this course would you be "lush." It's just a very solid venue for the LPGA pros out here to not only try to play well, but also test their game.

Hopefully the next couple days I can do the same thing and try to stripe a couple more putts, hit it as close to the hole as I can.

Q. How has your life changed? It's got to be crazy, right?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, well, I am in the beginning of month two of my professional career. Just pretty insane. I feel like I've just started my professional career but it also felt like forever just because I had so many obligations and so many different things that happened.

From a people perspective, I feel like the inner circle has remained the same. They've been able to keep me grounded and keep me having a lighthearted perspective on my game. They continue to humble me and just bring me back down to earth.

But I will say it is a lot more different with a lot more people knowing who I am and would recognize me in random places, like the super market when I'm at home.

So it is a little bit different, but I'm just trying to enjoy it.

Q. There are a few of you that came from Pebble to here and had some travel issues. Just a long journey to begin with. Do you still feel fatigue from that or are you pretty well rested now?

ROSE ZHANG: I will say that I'm a little more fatigued than I would like to be. I caught a cold, so my voice is not exactly the most normal right now.

Yeah, I will say that I had a nine-hour delay going from Phoenix, connecting flight to here. To Detroit actually. So it was a bit of a travel mess.

I came in Tuesday morning at 3:00 am, so the practice rounds and the pro-am was a little bit shaky for me. I'm glad that I played a solid round, and hopefully I can rest a little bit more before my afternoon tee time tomorrow.

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