On an admittedly busy week in the game, the professional debut of Rose Zhang flew further under the radar than it should have.

That, however, didn’t make her performance any less impressive.

While Viktor Hovland’s win at Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial grabbed plenty of the attention, Zhang’s play at Liberty National was nothing short of remarkable.

A little more than a week after celebrating her 20th birthday and making the step to the professional ranks, the former Stanford player and U.S. Amateur champion is an LPGA winner.

While it was mentioned ad nauseum on the coverage and social media how rare a feat it is to win on professional debut, what impressed most about Zhang is that she did it while looking human.

Unlike Tiger when he burst on the scene, Zhang looks vulnerable. She makes mistakes and even to the TV viewer appears to be feeling the pressure.

Yet she plays with great tenacity and, like Tiger, has the ability to hit the special shots at just the right time.

“… It’s an encouraging start to a career that looks like it will be long and fruitful. And while it’s an unfair amount of pressure to put on any one individual … that should be music to the ears of LPGA fans and administrators alike.” – Rod Morri. 

On Sunday at the Mizuho Americas Open her swing – and in particular her putting – were less than optimal.

But despite her lack of experience at this level and no small amount of external pressure, Zhang ground out victory like a seasoned professional. Impressive seems an understatement.

With the caveat that plenty of ‘can’t miss kids’ have missed, it’s an encouraging start to a career that looks like it will be long and fruitful.

And while it’s an unfair amount of pressure to put on any one individual, particularly one who is barely out of teenage years, that should be music to the ears of LPGA fans and administrators alike.

The women’s game struggles to attract the attention it deserves and, rightly or wrongly, the emergence of an American born star would go a long way towards correcting that imbalance.

Zhang is the most exciting home grown prospect to hit the LPGA since Lexi Thompson turned professional in 2010 at the age of 15.

Before Thompson it was Michelle Wie who bore the weight of expectation after also joining the pay for play ranks at 15.

And while both have been successful, neither reached the dizzying heights their early play suggested.

Ironically, Wie was the tournament host this past week in New Jersey having stepped away from full time competition last year at the age of just 32.

The former phenom is now focussed on business, including this tournament, and has been a mentor to fellow Stanford alumni Zhang for some years.

That seems yet another positive for Zhang whose lengthy and successful amateur career is in stark contrast to the road chosen by both Wie and Thompson.

With the added maturity of being five years older and the counsel of a player like Wie to call on, it seems Zhang’s chances of fulfilling her enormous potential are good.

And that would be terrific not only for her but for the women’s game more broadly.