AIG Women’s Open: Since becoming a pro, top amateur Rose Zhang has received a special exemption for the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath.
Zhang, who just turned 20 years old, will participate in the major from August 9–13 for the third time after playing as an amateur the first two years.
The American finished in a tie for 28th position at Muirfield last year to earn the Smyth Salver as the top amateur, but he missed the cut at Carnoustie in 2021 by one stroke.
The first woman to win consecutive NCAA individual national championships, Zhang made history earlier this month when she successfully defended her trophy in Arizona, surpassing Tiger Woods’ total record of victories while playing golf for Stanford University.
She won the US Women’s Amateur in 2020 and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this year, spent 141 weeks at the top of the rankings, and helped the US Curtis Cup team win matches against Great Britain and Ireland in 2021 and 2022.
“I am honoured to have received a special exemption,” Zhang said of being given a seat in the Women’s Open. I want to express my gratitude to The R&A for giving me this fantastic chance at the start of my professional career. I want to take full use of it.
“I have lovely memories of winning the Smyth Salver at Muirfield last year, and I felt delighted to see my name there with so many other well-known ones. One day, I’d want to take home the AIG Women’s Open trophy, and it would be absolutely incredible if Walton Heath hosted it.”
Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, described Rose Zhang as “an extraordinarily brilliant golfer who has already put her name into the history books as an amateur golfer.”
“We very seldom make an exception for the AIG Women’s Open, but Rose’s extraordinary achievements to far, in our opinion, warrant her inclusion.”
For golf live score, golf championship, golf club updates, daily golf score, golf today live update, golf daily score, golf tournament, all golf live updates, golf today daily, golf today live and other golf news follow Livematchupdates.com.
