Senegal say they will appeal after they were sensationally stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) instead declared Morocco champions, two months after their chaotic final.
Several Senegalese players controversially walked off the pitch in Rabat during the final on January 18 in protest when the hosts were awarded a penalty late in second-half stoppage time.
After Senegal’s players eventually returned having been coaxed back onto the pitch by captain Sadio Mane, Morocco missed the penalty and Pape Gueye went on to score the goal in extra time that gave his team a 1-0 victory.
CAF said that having studied Morocco’s appeal, “the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match” and the result was “officially recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco.
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The CAF Appeals Committee justified its decision by applying Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, which state that if a team “refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered (loser) and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition”.
The articles add that the team contravening the regulations “will lose its match by 3-0”.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said in a statement its appeal “was never intended to contest the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition regulations”.
“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, to the clarity of the competitive framework, and to the stability of African competitions,” the statement added.
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Senegal’s football authorities said they will appeal “as soon as possible” to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute,” it said in a statement.
Chaotic scenes
Minutes before the end of the match, some Senegalese supporters attempted a pitch invasion, while Senegal’s players halted the game for nearly 20 minutes to protest the late penalty awarded to Morocco.
The controversial spot-kick was awarded by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala right at the end of the allotted eight added minutes in normal time following a VAR check for a challenge on Brahim Diaz by El Hadji Malick Diouf.
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The game was goalless at the time and Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with the spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time.
But Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted ‘Panenka’ chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
The game at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium then went to extra time, and Gueye’s brilliant 94th-minute strike won it for Senegal.
Several of the team’s players posted on social media after the announcement that they had been stripped of the title.
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Defender Moussa Niakhate, who plays for French club Lyon, posted a picture of himself lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy with a message that said “they’re mad”, in an apparent reference to CAF.
In the immediate aftermath of the final, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had condemned “some Senegal players” for the “unacceptable scenes”.
“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right,” Infantino, who attended the match, said.
In late January, CAF imposed a series of disciplinary sanctions, including fines amounting to several hundred thousand euros, on the federations of both countries for unsportsmanlike conduct and violations of fair play principles.
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The appeal trial of 18 Senegalese supporters, imprisoned since the final and sentenced to prison terms ranging from three months to one year for “hooliganism”, which was scheduled to take place on Monday, has been postponed until March 30.
When Rory McIlroy won the Masters last April, dropped to his knees and started to sob, you could sense the enormity of the moment. McIlroy had waited his whole life for this, to win the tournament that had alluded him for years.
He held a four-shot lead after 54 holes in 2011 but imploded on Sunday, shooting 80 and tying for 15th. He had seven top 10s since then, but never a win, not until last year, when McIlroy outlasted Justin Rose in a playoff to win the green jacket and complete the career Grand Slam.
And with winning the Masters, you get a pre-Masters press conference, like McIlroy did virtually on Wednesday with a handful of reporters. One of the questions he was asked was what he learned about how to win the Masters by winning the Masters.
His answer? The importance of staying aggressive. And he even gave an assist to Phil Mickelson.
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McIlroy said he played a practice round with Mickelson, a three-time Masters champ, about 15 years ago and Mickelson told him, “Rory, one of the reasons I love Augusta National is because I feel I can be so aggressive here.”
“I remember thinking, ‘What does he mean?’” McIlroy said. “I feel the opposite. I feel I can’t be aggressive here because there’s so many bad places to miss. But Phil had so much — still has, probably — faith in his short game that if he does miss an approach shot by being aggressive, he still feels he can get that ball up and down. I would say by becoming a better putter and by maybe working on my short game a little bit and becoming better around the greens, that probably allowed me to become more aggressive with my approach play at Augusta.”
McIlroy said that over the years, the demands of Augusta National have made his approach play more tentative, and that’s when you leave yourself in bad spots. But when he learned to start playing more aggressively, it paid off.
He could even look back at his final round last year and find examples. He piled up birdies while being aggressive on the front nine, but once he got the lead and got to the back nine, he changed the way he played.
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“The first time that my mindset or my tactics went a little bit defensive, like trying to protect the lead, that’s when I got into trouble,” McIlroy said. “Obviously what happened on 13 (double bogey) and on 14 (bogey), and when I got to 15, again, I needed to be aggressive. I needed to make a birdie again, and I was able to do it. So there’s probably a lesson in there somewhere of not taking your foot off the gas. I thought I was sort of doing the smart thing by playing 13 as a three-shotter and trying to protect the lead that I built. But in hindsight, everything that went well for me that day and that week was when I played aggressively, when I went for my shots. That’s probably the lesson to learn.”
Barcelona fans online were left in awe of Raphinha after his performance vs Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg. The Catalans secured an 8-3 aggregate win over the Magpies over both legs on March 18.
Raphinha had an exceptional game, scoring twice and assisting two more. He had five out of five shots on target, delivered six key passes, and created three big chances. The Brazilian was pivotal to Barcelona’s victory in the game, while both Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal also combined well with him as a trio to create momentum in the attack.
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Fans showered praise on Raphinha after the game, with many recognizing how he has delivered in significant games since last season. One Culer wrote on X:
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“This frontline cooked heavily. Raphinha is just the best big match player.”
Many other users shared similar sentiments:
Fans continued to share their thoughts on Raphinha’s performance:
Note: All in-game statistics were taken from SofaScore as of writing and are subject to change per the website’s prerogative.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick claims they cannot think of winning the Champions League ‘yet’
In the post-match press conference, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick made a clear statement about his next mission. The German mentioned it is not yet the time to think about winning the Champions League, as they have to take it step by step.
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“We can’t think about winning the Champions League just yet. We have to go step by step, match by match… Both Atletico and Tottenham are really great teams and we will have to fight,” he said (via Barca Universal).
Barcelona will face either Atletico Madrid or Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter finals based on who wins their clash tonight. However, Los Colchoneros are more likely to be their opponent, given they are leading 5-2 over the Spurs from the first leg.
Flick also addressed the caveats in the Blaugrana defence, adding:
“We have to analyze this game. The defence is doing a really great job, and they have to play every minute. We have to think about that. We don’t have a lot of options to play. After the break we will get some players back, so we can improve in defence.”
Earlier this season, Barcelona lost 4-3 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. If they face the Spaniards in the Champions League quarter-finals, it could be their chance at redemption. However, Simeone’s side will not be an easy one to tackle given their form.
The Iranian women’s football team, whose plight has become embroiled in the Middle East war, returned back to Iran on Wednesday where they were promised a welcome ceremony in Tehran. Seven members of the delegation had sought asylum in Australia last week after their decision not to sing the national anthem before their opening game at the Women’s Asian Cup. With their demands for protection an embarrassment for Iran’s leaders, but lauded by US President Donald Trump, five later changed their minds, including captain Zahra Ghanbari.
Activists have accused Iranian authorities of pressuring the women’s families — including summoning parents for interrogations — but Tehran has in turn alleged that Australia sought to force the athletes to defect.
Two members have remained in Australia, but the rest of the team completed a long journey back on Wednesday via Malaysia, Oman and then to Istanbul and Turkey’s overland Gurbulak-Bazargan border crossing with Iran.
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AFP reporters saw them cross into Iran on a bus, wearing the national team tracksuits and with their hair covered.
In a post on X, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the players and their support team were “children of the homeland, and the people of Iran embrace them”.
By returning, they had “disappointed the enemies (of Iran) and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements,” he added.
Iranian news agency Mehr published images of a small welcome party waving flags on the Iranian side of the border, as well as the team and staff sat on a stage with a red carpet.
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“We have all gathered here to say well done and to express our appreciation,” the president of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, was quoted as saying.
“Although they are women, they showed manly courage and strength,” he added.
In a sign of their symbolic importance to Iranian authorities, a larger welcoming ceremony has been organised on Thursday at 8:00 PM (1630 GMT) in Valiasr Square where other pro-government rallies have taken place in recent weeks, Iranian media reported.
Rights groups have accused Tehran of systematically pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic republic.
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Withdrawals
The Iranian women fell silent as the national anthem played ahead of an Asian Cup match in Australia, which was interpreted as act of defiance towards the country’s leaders.
Although the side sang Iran’s anthem — an ode to the glory of the Islamic republic — in later matches, human rights activists warned the damage was done.
An Iranian state TV presenter branded the players “wartime traitors”, fuelling fears they faced persecution, or worse, if they returned.
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Five players, including captain Ghanbari, slipped away from the team hotel under the cover of darkness to claim asylum in Australia on March 10.
Two more delegation members — a player and a support staffer — were later granted asylum.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government had spent days in secret talks with the players, who were whisked to a safe house after leaving their hotel on the Gold Coast.
Iranian authorities had accused Australia of pressuring the players to stay.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Matchday 11 of the Nigeria Women Football League Premiership delivered thrilling action across centres, with late goals, important away victories, and tightly contested fixtures shaping the latest round of matches.
In Aba, Ahudiyannem Queens secured a commanding 3–0 win over Osun Babes, thanks to a brace from Grace Aaron and a goal from Nwabueze Charles. The victory boosted their position as they continue their push in the league.
At Makwada, Adamawa Queens edged Ekiti Queens 2–1 in a closely fought encounter. Ifeoma Damien opened the scoring before Favour Godwin doubled the lead. Winifred Eyebhoria pulled one back late on, but it was not enough to deny the hosts maximum points.
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Rivers Angels impressed on the road with a 2–0 win over Naija Ratels in Abuja. Early goals from Abasiofon Uwah and Grace Saliu ensured the visitors took full control of the match.
In Akure, Sunshine Queens and Delta Queens played out a goalless draw in a cautious encounter with few clear chances.
Confluence Queens and FC Robo Queens shared the spoils in Iyamho after a 1–1 draw. Oluwakemi Adegbuyi had given Robo Queens the lead before Vicental Ezeani equalised from the penalty spot just before half-time.
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Another stalemate was recorded in Aba, where Abia Angels and Remo Stars Ladies settled for a 0–0 draw.
One of the most dramatic moments of the day came in Lafia, where Nasarawa Amazons snatched a late 1–0 win over Dannaz Ladies. Deborah Onyekachi scored deep into stoppage time to seal a vital victory for the hosts.
In Owerri, Edo Queens secured a narrow 1–0 away win against Heartland Queens, with Kafayat Mafisere scoring the decisive goal in the second half.
Meanwhile, Pacesetter Queens and Ibom Angels played out a 1–1 draw in Ibadan. Ibom Angels took the lead through an own goal by Olufunke Taiwo, but Olaronke Ola rescued a point for the hosts with a stoppage-time equaliser.
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Matchday 11 lived up to expectations, with late winners and dramatic finishes underlining the competitiveness of the league as teams continue their battle for top positions.
Chelsea set for two-Leg clash with PSG in Champions League
Arsenal have been paired with Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-finals, while Liverpool will clash with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The Gunners enter this stage as the only unbeaten team in this season’s competition after defeating Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 on aggregate in the round of 16. A 2-0 second-leg triumph saw Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice find the net to secure progression.
Arsenal’s path to back-to-back semi-finals is blocked by a Sporting side that staged one of the round’s most remarkable comebacks. After losing the first leg 3-0 to Bodo/Glimt, Sporting overturned the deficit with a dramatic 5-3 aggregate victory following extra time, setting up a reunion with former striker Viktor Gyokeres.
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If Arsenal navigate past Sporting, they will meet either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals, with the Spanish giants having advanced past Newcastle and Tottenham respectively.
Liverpool, meanwhile, face a repeat of last season’s last-16 encounter with PSG, where the French club triumphed on penalties before claiming their maiden Champions League crown. The winners of the Liverpool–PSG tie will likely meet either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in a mouth-watering semi-final clash widely anticipated as the tie of the round.
Champions League quarter-final first-leg matches are scheduled for April 7 and 8, with return legs taking place a week later.
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Champions League Quarter-Finals
PSG vs Liverpool
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
Sporting vs Arsenal
Potential Semi-Finals
Winner PSG/Liverpool vs Winner Real Madrid/Bayern Munich
Winner Barcelona/Atletico Madrid vs Winner Sporting/Arsenal
Even though four teams have been knocked out this week, it is all but certain that the Premier League will get an extra place.
England (23.847) already have a coefficient score pretty much the same as last season’s second-placed country (Spain, 23.892).
Nothing should be completely taken for granted, as England seemed destined to get an EPS slot in 2023-24 only to suffer a terrible set of results in the quarter-finals.
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But it is going to take another very bad night on Thursday for there to be any real jeopardy.
It also helps that Bayern Munich will face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, meaning one of England’s closest rivals will lose a team. And Barcelona must play Atletico Madrid, too.
As a picture of how far England are ahead, German and Spanish sides are effectively 18 victories behind. And Serie A can no longer catch the Premier League.
SPAIN
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The Spanish league is in second place and now has more teams left in Europe (six) than any other league.
It will be a close battle as each win is worth less to the coefficient than for Germany.
The Champions League meeting between Bayern and Real Madrid could prove crucial in the race.
Spain will also be hit by their teams meeting each other.
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Atletico and Barcelona will meet in the Champions League quarter-finals.
In the Europa League, Celta Vigo and Real Betis are on a collision course in the semi-finals.
GERMANY
The Bundesliga has only Bayern left active in the Champions League, and it will need a strong turnaround of results on Thursday.
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Of the three German teams in action in the Europa League and Conference League, not one goes into their second leg with a lead. They all need positive results to be able to challenge Spain.
PORTUGAL
It seemed like Portugal’s chances of making the top two were effectively over when Santa Clara were knocked out of the Conference League in the qualifying rounds.
But three of their remaining four teams are still active.
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However, to be in contention for second all are going to have to go very deep.
ITALY
Serie A has lost four of its seven teams and now only has a slim chance of making second place.
Bologna and Roma face each other in the Europa League last 16, so another team will go out.
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At least Fiorentina won in the Conference League.
FRANCE
It has been a disappointing season for Ligue 1 teams, starting with Nice’s failure to make it through Champions League qualifying.
It did not get much better from there for Nice, as they were theneliminated from the Europa League.
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France do have four teams still active but seem unlikely to bridge the gap.
POLAND
It will come as a surprise to many to find Poland so high up in the table, and they were in the top two for a while. But Poland no longer have a realistic chance.
All four of the country’s teams have been playing in the Conference League, while more than a third of their coefficient points were picked up in the qualifying rounds.
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It would need both of their teams to win every remaining game.
No other country has a mathematical chance of the top two.
Sep 25, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; A Philadelphia Eagles helmet sits on the grass at FedExField before kickoff against the Washington Commanders, positioned near the sideline as players completed warmups and final preparations ahead of a divisional matchup in front of a packed crowd. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Before Minnesota Vikings fans really started to dream big about the reality of signing Kyler Murray as the offseason quarterback solution, Andy Dalton twisted in the trade rumor mill. Dalton won’t be a Viking after all, but he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday.
Philadelphia added a steady arm behind Jalen Hurts.
The Eagles evidently needed a stronger QB3 option behind Hurts and Tanner McKee. They got their man.
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Eagles Pick Dalton in Their QB Room
It’s his sixth NFL team.
Dec 24, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) throws during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium, releasing a pass in cold conditions as the Saints tried to generate offense in a tightly contested late-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Dalton Traded to PHI
It’s a 7th-Rounder for Dalton. CBS News‘ Tom Dougerty reported Wednesday, “The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly adding a veteran quarterback to add experience and depth behind Jalen Hurts. The Eagles have acquired 38-year-old Andy Dalton from the Carolina Panthers, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Birds are sending a 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Panthers.”
“Dalton, a long-time starting QB who made three Pro Bowls with the Cincinnati Bengals, spent the last three seasons in Carolina. In 2024, Panthers head coach Dave Canales benched Bryce Young, who was born in Wynnewood, for Dalton after Week 2. Dalton started five games before he sprained his thumb in a car accident before Carolina’s Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos.”
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Dalton will spend his 39th birthday later this fall on Nick Sirianni’s team.
Recent Production
Dalton’s recent performance provides a clear picture of his current abilities. Over the past three seasons in Carolina, despite limited playing time, he’s posted a 0.038 EPA+CPOE. Statistically, this places him alongside quarterbacks like Tyrod Taylor, Quinn Ewers, and Jake Browning, suggesting he’s a reliable, low-risk quarterback capable of managing an offense effectively.
The veteran has largely transitioned to a backup role in recent years, except for a stint as a starter in New Orleans in 2022 due to injuries. Looking at his broader career, Dalton was a primary starter from 2011 to 2020, leading his teams to an 84-83-3 record. Stylistically, he’s often compared to Kirk Cousins — a rhythm passer who excels within a structured system — though he hasn’t faced the same level of criticism.
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All told, here’s Dalton’s NFL destination list:
Cincinnati Bengals (2011–2019)
Dallas Cowboys (2020)
Chicago Bears (2021)
New Orleans Saints (2022)
Carolina Panthers (2023–2025)
Philadelphia Eagles (2026)
Extra Insurance for Eagles
Of course, no one is challening the aforementioned Hurts for the QB1 job. If Dalton owned a time machine that could take him back to his 2015 heyday — maybe.
Instead, the Eagles are hedging their bets if injuries arise. Vikings fans know all about those at the quarterback spot after J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz fell injured last year, paving the way for rookie Max Brosmer to see action in a handful of games. Incidentally, Brosmer played dreadfully. The Eagles want to avoid that kind of situation.
McKee will likely remain the QB2 — he has decent upside — but Dalton will be there in a pinch if the injuries mount. NFL teams are becoming increasingly aware of the backup quarterback spot during roster building. Passers are frequently hurt, and it feels like such incidents have become more common in recent years.
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Oct 26, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) stands on the field before kickoff at Bank of America Stadium, going through pregame routines as the veteran prepared for another start while serving as a steady presence in the Panthers offense. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, the Eagles know firsthand what a competent backup quarterback can provide; Nick Foles guided them to a Super Bowl in 2017 when Wentz went down.
SI.com‘s Eva Geitheim on the Dalton trade, “The trade for Dalton makes sense because Eagles often have a stacked quarterback room, and he gives them needed depth. Two years ago, Philadelphia had both McKee and Pickett behind Hurts.”
“This past season, the Eagles had McKee, Sam Howell — who they traded for last August — and rookie Kyle McCord on the roster/practice squad. With McCord leaving for the Packers and Howell joining the Cowboys this offseason, the Eagles needed a third-string quarterback, and have secured one in Dalton.”
Philadelphia Free Agency Transactions
The Eagles started free agency quietly but have picked up the pace in recent days. To date, they’ve added these newcomers and signed these extensions:
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Marquise Brown (WR) KC → PHI
Grant Calcaterra (TE) PHI → PHI
Arnold Ebiketie (ED) ATL → PHI
Braden Mann (P) PHI → PHI
Johnny Mundt (TE) JAX → PHI
Jonathan Jones (CB) WAS → PHI
Tariq Woolen (CB) SEA → PHI
Apr 28, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive tackle Lane Johnson stand with President Donald Trump during a White House ceremony honoring the Super Bowl LIX champions on April 28, 2025, celebrating the team’s championship season in front of invited guests. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-Imagn Images
And the players who’ve left Philadelphia:
Reed Blankenship (S) PHI → HOU
Nakobe Dean (LB) PHI → LV
Kylen Granson (TE) PHI → TEN
Sam Howell (QB) PHI → DAL
Azeez Ojulari (ED) PHI → ATL
Jae’lan Phillips (ED) PHI → CAR
Matt Pryor (G/T) PHI → ARI
Brett Toth (G) PHI → SF
Joshua Uche (ED) PHI → MIA
The Eagles are also in the market for a prominent pass rusher, which could land them at the doorstep of the Vikings with a Jonathan Greenard trade, according to the rumor mill.
FC Barcelona produced a dominant display to knock out Newcastle United from the UEFA Champions League, with Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski both scoring twice.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe had urged his players to be brave at the Nou Camp, and his side responded well in an entertaining first half.
Barcelona took an early lead when Raphinha finished neatly after a quick exchange with Fermin Lopez. However, Newcastle replied almost immediately as Anthony Elanga tapped in from close range following a cross from Lewis Hall.
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The home side went ahead again through Marc Bernal, but Newcastle showed great spirit to level once more. Harvey Barnes found Elanga at the back post, and the winger finished first-time to make it 2–2.
Barcelona regained the lead just before the break when Lamine Yamal converted a penalty after a VAR review penalised Kieran Trippier.
Despite trailing 3–2 at half-time, Newcastle were still in the tie. But the second half told a different story.
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Barcelona took control shortly after the restart as Fermin Lopez finished off a fine pass from Raphinha to extend the lead. Lewandowski then scored twice, first with a header and then with a powerful finish, putting the result beyond doubt.
Raphinha completed his brace later on, taking advantage of a defensive error to seal a comprehensive win for the Spanish side.
Newcastle, who had shown promise in the first half, were undone by poor defending after the break and were left to reflect on missed opportunities.
Barcelona now move on to the quarter-finals, where they will face either Atletico Madrid or Tottenham Hotspur.
The Los Angeles Lakers are rolling as the playoffs near, and while Luka Doncic deservedly gets the headlines, it may be Deandre Ayton who has been most key to the recent run.
During a losing streak about a month ago, Ayton was highly criticized for his dismissiveness toward the role the team needed him to play
But after “looking in the mirror,” Ayton has come around and is on board with the team’s plan, as reported by Dan Woike of The Athletic.
“And I’ve completely … I bought in. Completely, like 110 percent. I hope you see the work,” he said.
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What Changed for Deandre Ayton?
Ayton told The Athletic Monday that the key was removing an emphasis on scoring.
“I scratched that, I took that out. I said … when it comes to scoring, we don’t need that,” he said. “We need you to put that energy what you have for offense and into defense.
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“I just started looking in the mirror and said ‘Yo bro, … you’re not that guy. You don’t need to be on this team doing that at all. This team, you came here to be the effort guy and close out possessions, rebound. Run the damn floor hard as hell, make bigs work, make superstars work.’”
So far, it’s been a big success.
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“And I’m having fun with it, I’m not gonna lie,” he added.
Rose Zhang always wanted to walk this road, no matter how hard it got.
Golf has always been Zhang’s defining feature, or more specifically excelling at golf. She won 12 times at Stanford, including back-to-back NCAA Individual championships. She won the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She turned pro and became the first player in 72 years to win in her pro debut at the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open.
But while golf is an essential part of Rose Zhang’s DNA, it is not all she is. She wanted more. Even when she turned pro after her sophomore year at Stanford, Zhang always planned to finish her degree. Juggling life as a full-time professional golfer with a Stanford course load was difficult. So Zhang stepped back from full-time golf on the LPGA last winter to focus on school and achieve a lifelong dream that had nothing to do with birdies and bogeys.
What followed was a trying time that asked a lot of the 22-year-old.
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Taking 22 credits in the winter while trying to stay on top of her game took a toll on her body. She suffered neck spasms on both sides, which left her unable to practice or play for two months. She missed the cut in her return and then played in four majors, with her best finish being a T35 at the Evian. Glimpses of the Rose Zhang of old showed as she contended at the FM Championship in Boston, showing her that everything she wants — the golf and the degree — are attainable if you don’t flinch when it gets tough.
“I would say this year is the first time I really hit a hard struggle bus in my entire golf career,” Zhang said in Boston. “But I will say I think the success helps in that you know that it’s in you, but it also might hinder your look to the present and the future just because you expect way too much out of yourself in your circumstance. So I think I’m navigating that, and it’s helped me grow as a person and even as a player.
“It’s as simple as sticking to the process and making sure you’re getting little bits of positivity in there. It’s something that’s kind of new to me, but I feel like I’ve been at a really good trajectory and I’ll be able to keep building from there.”
Zhang will tee it up at this week’s Fortinet Founders Cup at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club, almost on the other end of a long, arduous journey that has tested her in every sense. With her final term of classes complete, Zhang just has one 10-page paper between her and a different kind of success. She’ll walk in June, but for all intents and purposes, Zhang is set to enter a new chapter — one that will be foreign to her because of its singular focus.
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“These last two, three weeks was when I had to come [to terms] with the fact and sit with the fact that I will be Rose the golfer,” Zhang said Tuesday at the Fortinet Founders Cup. “I think for a long time I was always one foot into academia and one foot into the professional world and actually playing, but I’ve never really thought of myself as two feet into the pro career.”
Zhang turned a star amateur career into quick success on the LPGA. She won the Mizuho Americas Open and Founders Cup. Her star was rising at a time when the LPGA needed talents with an infectious personality.
But sometimes destiny beckons you in a different direction, one that speaks to a separate part of your soul. Zhang never thought twice about putting golf on the back burner to finish what she started at Stanford. That decision tested her mentally and physically. But she never wavered, and the lessons that followed should help her as she fully steps back into the pro golf spotlight.
“I would say I did have to put in a lot of time and energy into thinking about why I wanted to do these things, about why I wanted to play tour golf, go to college, everything in between,” Zhang said Tuesday. “It was a big personal journey for me. I think when things get really tough, and you’re situated with 60 hours a week of class and work on top of sponsor days and traveling, and still trying to practice for tournaments, I think the balance is very difficult. I had to learn what was the limit for me and what works best with having a really difficult schedule like that.
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“But most importantly, it was important to keep the faith [that] this is a journey, and this is how I’m supposed to grow and learn. That’s kind of how I was able to come to this end.”
Those lessons — dedication, patience, perseverance — can be applied universally, whether you’re researching early civilizations or grinding over a five-footer to save par. Over the past 16 months, Zhang has soaked in every part of the road she chose to travel. She played in majors but was rusty. The competitor in her struggled with the temporary reality of not being as sharp as she had been for most of her conscious life. It would have been easy to reverse course and choose to live in the comfort of the familiar. But Zhang never regretted her choice. Hard? Yes. Worth it? Undoubtedly, with the full payoff still unknown, she continues to digest everything her journey has taught her.
“I think this was probably one of the most important achievements for my personal development as a person,” Zhang said of finishing her degree. “I feel like there is obviously a lot of noise about whether it was a good decision or not. Personally, I think when I turned pro end of sophomore year I’ve always envisioned wanting to finish, regardless of how difficult it would be, regardless of how much my body would break down or feasibility-wise how that would work.
“Never really gave it a second thought. To see the end of the finish line coming very close … means the world.”
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As for what the new reality awaiting Zhang looks like, she isn’t sure. But there’s a freedom in the unknown, and Rose Zhang is ready for whatever her next chapter brings — ready to see what life only as Rose Zhang, the golfer, looks like.
“I’m not sure how it will turn out,” Zhang said. “I’m excited to see where it goes. If it’s something that I’m still extremely passionate about. I’m 100% going to dive all in. This whole year really in my opinion will be my first official rookie year of like, okay, this is where I’m going to take this game on and see how best I can do in the sport.
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