"My head is pounding"- Rose Zhang opens up about 'crazy' experience with windy conditions at AIG Women's Open

The Old Course at St. Andrews has been a challenge for Rose Zhang as it is her first time playing in such conditions. Zhang has struggled with the wind and cold and it has showed in her game.

Rose Zhang herself admitted that it was her first time playing in such conditions. Zhang stated that the experience was "definitely memorable."

This was part of what Rose Zhang said (via ASAP Sports):

"That was tough. My head is pounding...This was a first, honestly because usually the greens are faster so the ball is actually rolling off the greens. But I've never had to back off so many putts. I'm standing and losing balance. It's definitely memorable."

Rose Zhang also reflected on the importance of playing patiently, amid the weather conditions at St. Andrews. This was part of what she said:

"I feel like it's so easy to really just get out of focus, especially when you hit some errant shots or when you've got to really long putts for birdie or par. I just really try to stay, as you said, patient out there. And the patience requires to you really hold still and be committed to every single shot."

This is not the first time Rose Zhang has played on a links course. Just the week before, she played at Dundonald Links for the Women's Scottish Open, where she finished T25. However, the weather conditions there were much more favorable than at the AIG Women's Open.

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A look at Rose Zhang's performance in the first two rounds of the AIG Women's Open

Rose Zhang's struggle in adapting to the conditions of the AIG Women's Open course was reflected in her results. In particular, the front nine on the Old Course at St. Andrews proved to be very challenging for her.

The American started the first round on the 10th hole and completed her first nine holes on the back nine with two birdies and no bogeys. It was the opposite on the front nine as she made two bogeys and no birdies to finish the round at even par.

On day two, the front nine was even more challenging as she made a quadruple bogey on the 2nd and a double bogey on the 5th. Birdies on the 3rd and 16th helped her to get to 4 over and make the cut on the number.

With her score, Zhang is tied for 60th place, 12 shots behind the leader, Nelly Korda. However, it is her 13th cut in 16 majors. Her best finish at a major was a T8 at the 2023 Women's PGA Championship.

This is Zhang's fourth appearance at the AIG Women's Open, with three missed cuts. In 2022, she tied for T28 and won the low amateur award.