At Pebble Beach, golf is saying goodbye to one star, hello to another

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — The first two slots on the U.S. Women’s Open press convention docket on Tuesday had been two of the most important names within the discipline: Michelle Wie West and Rose Zhang.

Wie West’s identify has lengthy been one of the weightiest within the sport. Ever since her early teenagers, she’s been within the highlight. She gained a USGA championship, performed a number of PGA Tour occasions and have become the primary lady to qualify for a USGA males’s championship — all earlier than she might legally drive. By the time she turned 16, she was prepared to flip professional.

In a sport determined for a brand new star within the ladies’s sport, Wie West was the chosen one.

Nearly twenty years later, Zhang’s identify is held in an identical regard. She dominated in junior golf, profitable the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Girls Junior (in that order, extremely), after which continued her success on the collegiate ranks. She gained 12 occasions at Stanford — together with back-to-back NCAA particular person titles — and added a victory on the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She turned professional at a barely older age than Wie West, ready till she turned 20, after which promptly gained in her first begin.

In a sport as soon as once more looking for a transcendent star, Zhang appears destined to fill that position.

This week at Pebble Beach, the 2 stars’ paths meet. For Wie West, it’s the top of the highway. For Zhang, it’s the start.

Wie West was supposed to be the following dominant star within the ladies’s sport, nevertheless it didn’t precisely pan out that method. She gained simply 5 occasions on the LPGA Tour — together with a significant title on the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open — by no means fairly residing up to the outsized expectations positioned on her from a younger age. Golf is a fickle sport, even for probably the most gifted stars.

After battling accidents for a lot of her prime, Wie West introduced final summer season that this yr’s U.S. Women’s Open can be her closing event.

“It was bittersweet to announce that,” Wie West stated. “[But] it’s been an amazing journey, and I’m very excited for what happens next.”

Zhang, very similar to Wie West, is supposed to be the following dominant star within the ladies’s sport. Her beginner report speaks for itself, and in simply two professional begins, she’s already residing up to the hype, with a win and another top-10 end to her credit score. She’s already performed in two U.S. Women’s Opens as an beginner, however this week will mark her first begin within the championship as a professional.

“I really felt that my game was ready for the next level,” Zhang stated. “So here I am.”

It’s onerous to argue primarily based on her dash out of the gates. But at this degree, there are not any ensures.

Zhang and Wie West share a administration firm, so there is a lot overlap between them. Zhang gained Wie West’s event, the Mizuho Americas Open, in her first begin. And with every having attended Stanford, it’s an ideal recipe for a mentor-mentee relationship.

When Zhang took the rostrum at Pebble Beach Tuesday morning, Wie West was just some hundred yards away on Golf Channel’s “Live From” set. As they talked to the media, every spoke glowingly of the opposite.

“She’s incredible,” Zhang stated. “This is her last stretch, but I’m really honored to be able to just be a part of it.” Said Wie West: “She’s really done it all on her own. I really hope that I can be a sounding board for her.”

As Zhang stepped out of the interview space behind Pebble’s 18th inexperienced, Wie West was there to greet her. The two shared a fast hug as Wie West headed to her press convention and Zhang was whisked away to her subsequent media obligation.

A few hours later, they met on the first tee for a observe spherical. Although Zhang holds the ladies’s course report at Pebble Beach, there was nonetheless a lot to be taught from Wie West.

“It’s been nice that Rose has definitely asked me questions,” Wie West stated. “She’s asked me to later on help her with her tournament schedule and with like school schedule and match that up. I just want to be a sounding board for her.”

As Zhang and Wie West performed their observe spherical, alongside Marina Alex, their entourage swelled. Agents, gear reps, media and relations dotted the gallery. Wie West’s husband, Jonnie West, was on the bag, as their daughter, Makenna, squealed with glee as she watched the seals on the seashores beneath. By their fourth gap, they’d attracted the biggest crowd on the course.

Wie West was fast to supply recommendation when referred to as upon, and Zhang even shared a few of her personal — her favourite spot in Carmel for clam chowder.

“I’m super-excited for what she’s doing to come, because she has a lot of big things ahead of her,” Zhang stated. “[And] not just from golf. That inspires me.”

When the three gamers reached the seventh tee, a photo-op was so as. Wie West and Zhang posed on the elevated tee field, together with Alex, as dozens gathered round and snapped footage.

With Wie West stepping away, rounds like these will quickly be a factor of the previous.

Fortunately for golf, there’s another star prepared to take her place.

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com the place he spends his days running a blog, producing and enhancing. Prior to becoming a member of the workforce at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas adopted by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all issues instruction and covers beginner and ladies’s golf. He may be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.