Australian Hannah Green wins first major at LPGA Championship

Australian Hannah Green won the women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine, her first victory on the LPGA Tour, to become the first Australian woman since Karrie Webb at the Kraft Nabisco in 2006 to win a major.

The 22-year-old from Perth shot a 72 on Sunday for a nine-under total of 207 to win by one shot from defending champion Sung Hyun Park (68) of South Korea. Green held her nerve and saved par from the bunker with a five-foot putt on the final hole after Park drained an 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to bring added pressure.

Among those who celebrated with Green was Webb, who brought Green to America four years ago as part of her scholarship program. Green, in only her second full year on the LPGA Tour, is the first wire-to-wire winner of this major since 2011.

“I’m pretty much speechless,” said Green. “I was really nervous the last five holes and just really – I made a clutch putt and that was kind of got me through another one. To make the one on the last is really is surreal. Obviously I heard Sung made the last one, knew I needed to make par. Didn’t want to play that hole again [playoff]. I’m really happy I made it.”

She said it was a dream to win in front of friends. “It’s awesome. I’ve always wanted to win in front of an Aussie crowd. I felt even that’s what it was like today. Anything to just be winning in majors the first event.”

source: theguardian.com