19 Aug 2020 | Professional golf |
Green prepares for 'home' game
by Martin Blake
Hannah Green is embracing her Scottish roots as the women’s major season ramps up at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon this week.
Green’s mother, Sue, is from Fraserburgh, north of Aberdeen. “I have been up there to visit my family, but they did come and watch me last year, and a lot more family were planning on coming this year before COVID,” she told the media at Royal Troon today.
“So I haven't had the opportunity to play lots of golf courses here. I was fortunate enough last year that I got to play St Andrews, but I had not actually been to this side of Scotland. I am really excited to be here. I feel like I do have, you know, somewhat of an idea of links golf. I am from Perth where it does get windy, but probably not the same scene as Troon without trees and whatnot.
“But I'm really excited to be here and I think that will definitely help me when I'm out there and practise in some tricky conditions. Just got to see the brighter side of things and just think what an amazing venue.’’
It is the first time the women’s British Open has come to Royal Troon, the storied west coast club which has hosted the Open Championship nine times, most recently in 2016 when Henrik Stenson shot a closing 63 to win.
Green is one of nine Australians in the field, trying to add to the major championship that she won at Hazeltine last year. It is her first look at Royal Troon, and the weather forecast – rain and wind, in short – suggests that like everyone else, she is in for a tricky week.
But for now, she is soaking up all the history. “I think I will, walking in the clubhouse, seeing all the memorabilia in the wall, in the cabinet there,” she said. “I actually haven't had the chance to have a proper read of everything, but I would definitely do that sometime, and I even think I'm going to rewatch the official film for the 2016 Open. Give me a bit of, you know, good memories, I guess, from seeing Henrik playing so well. So I'm hopefully can make some of my own history here, too.”
Green finished just outside the top 10 at the Ladies’ Scottish Open last week in her return to tournament golf after the Covid-enforced break. It was an encouraging start to a disjointed season, and it suggests that as a major champion and already twice a winner on the LPGA Tour, Green is playing with more confidence.
It is a notion she accepts. “Definitely a huge difference,” she said. “I feel like, you know, winning KPMG (the PGA) as well as Portland last year, it's given me somewhat of confidence even when I'm not playing my best, and even when I am playing well, everyone says it, but there's so many holes to play. You can have a great round the first couple rounds, but you've just got to keep grinding and keep staying in it, and that's what I did both times.
“So yes, hopefully I can get off to a good start because, I mean, it is going to be tough. There are going to be players that are going to slowly get better as the rounds get on. So I'm hoping … I can have some good consistent rounds and just keep in it.’’
Green tees off at 7.20am Thursday at Royal Troon (4.20pm AEST) with Teresa Lu of Taiwan
Join our newsletter
Get weekly updates on news, golf tips and access to partner promotions.