The drought is over. Hannah Green now has her Women’s Australian Open. The Australian won on Sunday at the Women’s Australian Open and ended a wait that had lasted since 2014, when it was won by Karrie Webb. Twelve years on, Australia is back in charge of its tournament and does so thanks to a player of real stature.
Green, 29, managed to withstand a long, trap-filled Sunday at Kooyonga Golf Club. She carded a final round of 70 strokes, two under par, to close the tournament at -11 and win by a single stroke over Cassie Porter (-10) and Agathe Laisne (-10). It was no stroll, far from it. It was a victory heavy with pressure and tension, as she was the one who had the most to lose on Sunday.
The day began with Green in command, but she soon ran into trouble. Magdalena Simmermacher put her under pressure from the off with consecutive birdies at 2 and 3 to overtake her. Green responded in style with an important birdie at 5, and kept herself going as the tournament began to open up on several fronts at once.
Because the danger did not only come from her own group. Cassie Porter unleashed an incredible 62, ten under par, including a course record, to set the bar very high in the clubhouse. And, almost at the same time, the Frenchwoman Agathe Laisne really turned up the heat with four straight birdies between 8 and 11 to join the lead. The tournament was completely open and Green already knew she could not rely on others making mistakes. There was a fire in every corner.
That was when the most solid version of Hannah appeared. She birdied 9 to keep setting the pace and found the decisive shot at the 16th, where she conjured up an extraordinary birdie at exactly the right moment. It was a two-shot swing, because Laisne dropped ground at 17 and Green gained breathing space just as the tournament headed for its conclusion. Even so, she did not allow herself a calm arrival. A bogey at 17 left her with only a one-shot margin to decide everything on 18, the final test. She got it done with a good tee shot, a meritorious approach and a closing par that tasted glorious.
The victory is hugely significant for Green. Not only for winning at home, with all the emotional pressure that entails, but because it also confirms her excellent current form. Just two weeks ago she won in Singapore and now she has two wins in three starts. In addition, she records her first ‘regular’ win on the Ladies European Tour and adds her name to the most prestigious trophy in Australian golf.
In Spanish terms, the week leaves an especially positive headline: the solidity of Blanca Fernández. The Madrid native finished in 21st position, with a total of even par, after closing on Sunday with a round of 71 strokes, one under par. A good result. Another very composed performance in Australia, the second consecutive in which she competes with poise, appearing at times among the leaders and showing tee-to-green golf of a winning standard on the LET. Blanca is sending signals. And they are good.
Alongside her, the other two Spaniards who made the cut were Marta Martín, who finished in 55th place with +9 overall, after carding a 74 on Sunday, and Marta Sanz, who finished in 63rd position with +12, after a final round of 77 strokes.
