U.S. Women’s Open: World’s best female golfers set to battle it out at iconic Pebble Beach course

It has only been two weeks since the last major, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and with the dust only just settling on China’s Ruoning Yin’s maiden victory, the world’s best now descend on one of golf’s most iconic and historic courses — Pebble Beach Golf Links — for the first time ever to contest the U.S. Women’s Open.

The oldest major in women’s golf, will head to the famous layout on the Monterey Peninsula which has witnessed some of the sport’s biggest names lift the grandest of prizes, and Australia’s Minjee Lee will hope to add her name to that list by defending the title that she won in historic fashion last year. Ad The Open'It's a shame' — Garcia to miss Open Championship for first time since 199721 HOURS AGO Whilst many will be keeping an eye on how Lee fares, there will be particular focus on one of the hottest prospects to have graced the game in recent years, 20-year-old Rose Zhang, who won on her LPGA debut just nine days after turning professional last month.

Not only will there be an expectancy due to her recent win and impressive finish at last months major at Baltusrol, but also — and you'll hear it plenty this week — Zhang holds the Pebble Beach women’s competitive course record (63), carded during the second round of the Carmel Cup last September. Zhang’s rapid rise has even surprised herself.

“I would have never expected myself to be in this position,” Zhang said about her immediate success as a professional. “Just being able to be in contention has been incredible, feeling-wise, and I feel like my game has been on par with a lot of the professionals and the veterans out here.