Hannah Green - 2019 Was a Great Celebration for Those Involved in Women’s Golf in Australia

HANNAH GREEN 2019 Was a Great Celebration for All Those Involved in Women’s Golf in Australia!

If you are not aware that West Australian Hannah Green became the first Australian woman to win a major championship since Karrie Webb won the ANA Inspiration thirteen years ago, it is time to get out from under that rock and celebrate one of the most popular wins on the LPGA tour in recent memory! H annah’s win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June was incredibly her first on the US LPGA Tour, and created headlines across Australia, coming on the same day that tennis star Ash Barty became the world’s best player and surfer Sally Fitzgibbons also regained her number 1 world ranking. I have been involved in professional sport now for almost 35 years, and I have never seen women athletes make both the front and back pages of national newspapers, appear on the nightly news across all of the 5 major free-to-air channels and make headlines on international websites such as ESPN and BBC Sports. To put Hannah’s win into true context, the only other Australian women to win major championships are Jan Stephenson and Karrie, who are of course legends of our sport in Australia. While Karrie is winding down her playing schedule and only competing part-time, we really needed one of our younger stars to step up to the plate. And step up is what Hannah did, holding her nerve making a par putt from just inside two metres at Hazeltine National Golf Club for a one-shot victory over former world number 1 and defending champion, Korean superstar Sung Hyun Park. It is absolutely wonderful for golf in Australia that young girls and women now have a relevant golfing superstar to look up to and aspire to be! Watching those final holes of the last round I am sure were torture for all of Hannah’s family, friends and supporters, and I was one of many I am sure who didn’t want to get ahead of myself and think that Hannah could actually win the tournament. I couldn’t, it would just be too disappointing if she didn’t win! It is honestly the most nervous I have been watching anyone play, apart from when my sister Mardi finished third in this event back in 1999. To be honest, the way Hannah kept her composure over the course of the week was really incredible given the intense cauldron of pressure she had suddenly found herself in. The American commentators really didn’t give her a chance of winning, constantly referencing the fact that Hannah had not won on the LPGA Tour as yet, and that all she had to draw on in terms of experience were her three wins in her rookie year on the Symetra Tour and her times playing in the final group at her National Open. For them to discount any tournament win was crazy in my opinion, for Hannah that first win on the Symetra Tour and her other two wins would have been equally important to her at that time as the occasion she found herself in at Hazeltine National Golf Club on Sunday afternoon on June 23rd 2019 needing a par to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Story by Karen Lunn • Image courtesy ALPG

Hannah’s ability to keep her composure under the most intense pressure and scrutiny, combined with a solid allround game and a superb short game were enough to get her across the line and make history. To be able to handle that constant pressure over the course of the four days made her win even more impressive; in the US they call that wire-to-wire win after she slept on the overnight lead after every round. The celebrations around Hannah’s win were made even more special by some of the circumstances around it. After holing that knee-trembling two-metre putt for victory, Hannah was immediately swamped on the 18th green by her mentor, Karrie, her boyfriend Jarryd Felton, fellow pro and travel buddy Su Oh, former tour pro now Female Pathway Manager at Golf Australia Stacey Peters, Aussie star Sarah Kemp, and amateurs Becky Kay and Grace Kim who were there that week as winners of the Karrie Webb scholarship. It’s become a tradition on the LPGA Tour in recent years for friends and family to spray the winners with water, however, there is no way that that was going to happen on this occasion and in true Aussie fashion Hannah was instead drenched with beer! Hannah, Karrie, Su, Jarryd, Stacey, Becky and Grace had all been staying together in a house locally for the tournament and it was only fitting that they all got to celebrate Hannah’s win together. That it happened to be the week that Karrie Webb scholarship winners Becky and Grace were there is actually quite pertinent, as Hannah herself was a part of that program in 2015 and 2016 staying with Karrie at the US Women’s Open, hanging on every word her hero said and gaining what would be incredibly valuable incite in dealing with the pressures of playing in a major championship. The presence of Hannah’s fellow golf professional boyfriend Jarryd was also another piece which made the win have even more of a fairytale ending. The photos of the celebrations on the 18th green tell a story of this tight group of mates and how much Hannah’s win meant to them all. I have it on very good authority that the party on Sunday night in Minneapolis at the “team” house was a pretty big one, and rightly so! For Karrie, I know that Hannah’s win was very special. She watched her good friend play all 18 holes of the final round and said she felt as though it was she who had won given the emotions she experienced. Karrie was quoted as saying “It’s the same emotions, you didn’t do it yourself but, you know, you supported someone to realize that dream.” “I caught myself a few times getting ahead of myself for Hannah, it was just amazing how she was handling herself out there and thinking about how much winning this event would change her life, and I start choking up about how proud I was of her. So proud of her.” Karrie also said that she had identified that Hannah’s attitude and composure would one day be a great strength for the then 18-year-old when she had watched her compete at the US Amateur Championship. “Years ago, I watched her at the amateur in Portland and I could just tell the way she carries herself on the golf course and how she is mentally that she was made to win golf tournaments on the LPGA, made to win Majors.

“So, you know, for this to be her first win and her first Major, it's just fantastic. “I'm a big body language person, I've always watched my opponents' body language and especially in later years and so I just thought how she was today was just amazing, like the pace she played never changed. “I played a practice round with her on Wednesday and today it looked like it was Wednesday playing 9 holes the way she was carrying herself out there. When things got a little tough there through the middle stretch, I think we were more stressed than she was because then she just followed that up with a great par on 13 and birdie chance on 14, 15 and birdied 16. “That's world-class the way she closed out that tournament. “This is one of the best days I've had at a golf course, especially in the long haul. It ranks really high because I'm glad that it happened when I was still playing and I was here at the event to watch it in-person.” For Hannah, the win shows that she has truly arrived as a world-class player and gives her the opportunity to step out of the shadows of Minjee Lee and Su where she has patiently waited for the past six years. While Hannah had a fine amateur career, she was not considered to be in the class of Minjee, who is now the No. 4 player in the world and Su, twice a runner-up on the LPGA Tour. Many people have asked me how Hannah’s life will change after the win. Firstly, Hannah is such a fantastic, down to earth person that I don’t see the win changing her at all to be honest. For sure she will get a lot more attention over the next year, but with that comes opportunities such as the 5 year LPGA exemption she now has and getting to play week in and week out with the world’s best players in LPGA “A player” tee times. She will need to learn to better manage her time and get used to dealing with the media on a more regular basis. The classy way she handled the media in the aftermath of her win shows that she will most probably handle these extra demands without too much trouble. There will also be sponsors out there keen to become involved with Hannah. She has a great personality, is very genuine and speaks openly and honestly which you cannot say about all professional athletes, and I think that these attributes will be very attractive for potential corporate sponsors. I am confident over time we will see Hannah resemble her West Australian compatriot Minjee Lee with many sponsor logos on her clothing, headwear and golf bag. In general, and in terms of dealing with her newfound fame and fortune, Hannah is also very fortunate to have Karrie in her corner to help her deal with anything she may find uncomfortable or if life becomes a little overwhelming. One thing we do know is that this is a great time for women’s golf in Australia, and we wish all of our members all the best for 2020. Keep track of news and stories on our website alpg.com.au Facebook Australian Ladies Professional Golf Official Twitter @ALPGTour Youtube channel GameOnALPG Instagram ALPGTour

Europe’s Unbelievable Victory 2019 SOLHEIM CUP

Gleneagles, PGA Centenary Course (6,434 yds), Scotland, September 9-15, 2019 USA’s Morgan Pressl hit the opening shot at 8:10am on the Friday morning in foursomes and Norway’s Suzann Pettersen inked history with her winning singles 7- foot birdie putt on the Sunday getting the W on the 18th green, resulting in three days of dramatic compelling competition.

USA’ Lizette, Jessica, Brittany and Angel won posting red for US - 13. As they pursued the Cup, they only needed a half point to keep the Cup, whereas 14.5 was needed for Europe’s victory. An amazing climax came in the last 90 minutes with Europe standing firm and exceeding dreams and hopes! Europe’s Anna Nordquist playing last, beat Morgan 4 & 3, leaving Europe’s Suzann and feisty rookie Bronte Law to battle for Europe’s victory. Bronte finally closed out USA’s Aly 2 & 1. Suzann’s superb finale was a 7- foot birdie putt into the heart of the cup! Pandemonium erupted in Scotland - the home of golf - with wild celebrating, adoring fans, ecstatic teammates and sorrowful Americans. Suzann scooped up her infant son, Herman, for a big hug. “To win here, this Scottish crowd, to be here most of all. I could never in a million miles dream it. I think this is the perfect closure,” she said. “It doesn’t get any better. I mean, to hole this winning putt… nothing beats the Solheim Cup in my career.” Scotland’s overjoyed captain Catriona Matthew said “it’s a dream come true, a fantastic moment. We never could have done it if it wasn’t all of us,”. Catriona was previously criticized for picking Suzann, “I knew watching her playing six weeks before, she could do it and she would be great.” Congratulations all! Golf’s the winner… S o many highs and lows, great shots and mammoth putts combined with Scotland’s fickle, frosty, windy weather, crowds of knowledgeable supporters - applauding, encouraging, created a superb ambiance helping players and teams to exceed expectations with stunning play, nerves of steel and fortitude. Friday morning foursomes saw Europe edge ahead 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 with brilliant play by USA’s Jessica and Nelly Korda, making history in their sister’s partnership, winning 6 & 4. Europe’s Georgia Hall & Celine Boutier plus Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz won for Europe. Afternoon fourballs saw Europe’s Suzann and Anne Van Dam win, with the USA’s Aly McDonald and Angel Yin also winning. The other matches were all square. Europe 4, US 3. Scottish Saturday weather was testing. Morning foursomes were split; USA’s Morgan and Marina Alex won 2 & 1 leading off and the Korda sisters closing with a 6 & 5 victory for USA. Europe’s Georgia Hall, Celine won 3 & 2, as did Charley and Azahara 4 & 3. Europe 6, US 5. Afternoon fourballs saw the USA surge; USA’s Brittany Altomare and Annie Park 1 Up, USA’s Lizette Salas and Danielle King 2 Up. Europe’s Georgia and Celine won 2 Up, all square for the other match. Europe 5 ½, US 5 ½. Gleneagles was at its glorious best on the Sunday. Spain’s Carlota Ciganda led off for Europe and won 1 up. Nelly Korda got red up for the USA; Euro’s Celine and Georgia inked blue. Story by Susanne Kemper • Images by Rolex and Tristan Jones/Ladies European Tour

main pic: Victorious Team Europe. above: Anna Nordqvist teeing off. left: Team Europe.

right: Lexi Thompson celebrates with teamates. below: Marina Alex of the USA in action during the Sunday Singles