When it was over, Hannah Green was almost speechless. The seven-time LPGA winner became the first Aussie since Karrie Webb in 2014 to win the women’s Australian Open. In the end, it was a formidable 1-2 punch for the home crowd as compatriot Cassie Porter fired a 10-under 62 on Sunday to finish second.
“I think the win in Singapore definitely helped with my nerves today,” said 29-year-old Green, who won two weeks ago at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Sinagpore to move up to No. 9 in the world. “I felt a little bit more in control of my golf ball.”
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Green shot 2-under 70 in the final round to finish at 11 under for the tournament. Porter’s 62 set a course record at Kooyonga Golf Club, getting her to 10 under for the event. Major champs Grace Kim finished T-10 and Minjee Lee dropped to T-29 after a third-round 77.
“I have said before that winning your own championship is like winning a major and I definitely still feel that way,” said Green, who made her first LPGA title a major at the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA at Hazeltine. “It was just different playing in front of home. I knew everyone wanted me to have the trophy in their hands at the end of the day. So that was a really nice feeling.”
Green’s husband, Jarryd Felton, a touring pro himself, was once again on her bag, giving him two wins in three starts helping out his wife. Green’s full-time caddie, David Buhai, is unable to leave the U.S. as he applies for a green card. Buhai is married to major champion Ashleigh Buhai, a two-time winner of the Australian Open.
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“He’s probably getting a little bit too used to caddying, if I’m honest,” said Green of her husband. “He is a really good player himself, so I hope that this doesn’t change what he wants to do in life. But it’s been really amazing having him obviously side by side.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Australian Open: Hannah Green is first Aussie to win title since 2014
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