Hannah Green poised for a good week at US Women’s Open
Hannah Green practising Tuesday as the ‘marine layer’ rolls in – photo Darren Carroll USGA
Australian Hannah Green already has a major title to her name and this week she sets out to add another at the US Women’s Open.
The Perth golfer, who won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2019, has played well in most events she has competed in 2021 including a near misses in Singapore and Thailand, a 3rd place at the LA Open and two other top twenties in other events she has played in the US earlier.
Green’s last appearance was at last week’s Bank of Hope Match Play event in Las Vegas where she failed to advance beyond the round robin stage but she is by some way Australia’s leading player on the LPGA Tour in 2021 and has some hope of another good showing this week.
The length Green has been able to add to her game while working with coach Ritchie Smith has already proven a great bonus to her game in 2021 and on the lengthy Olympic Club layout near San Francisco it is an asset that could well prove of significant benefit.
“This week is going to be a little different to what we’ve had the whole entire year,” said Green in a press conference on Tuesday. “I think this year pars are going to be great scores. I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw the winner at over par. That’s how tough it’s playing.
“The course is long, just because we are getting cooler temperatures, and the rough is really thick. So getting yourself around is going to be quite the tough task. Major championships are already a long week, but I think with having to concentrate with every shot on this golf course, it’s going to be quite grueling.
“I’m super excited. Obviously had some good results this year and love playing major championships, so I’m super excited.”
“They don’t actually have a first cut of rough here, so it’s going to be quite interesting,” added the 24 year old. “There’s a few run-offs that we have to worry about with the slopes and making sure that, even if you have to hit 3-wood and have a longer shot in, it’s going to be quite a different way of playing golf compared to just hitting driver everywhere.
“The rough is quite thick around the greens, so whoever hits the most greens, I want to say, is probably who’s going to win the tournament. So fairways and greens is key, but also giving yourself uphill putts. If you get some downhill putts, it’s going to be defensive. You won’t be able to be aggressive and try to make it.”
“All up, every part of your game is going to be tested this week, so I’m ready for the task.”
Green is Australia’s second highest ranked female player behind Minjee Lee but is now only two places behind her fellow West Australian in the Rolex Rankings.
It will be an interesting battle between the pair to see who might emerge as the leading Australian this week and, perhaps, something significantly better.
