Australia’s Hannah Green pulled off one of the best comebacks in recent memory to win the LPGA’s JM Eagle LA Championship at El Caballero Country Club.
The 29-year-old birdied the first playoff by holing a superb right-to-left curling putt to defeat Korean duo Sei Young Kim and Jin Hee Im.
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Green made five back nine birdies, including four in a row from holes 13 to 16, to charge into the three-way playoff after being six shots off the lead on the 11th hole.
Once she got to the playoff, there was no stopping the West Australian, who finished 17-under par overall after a final round four-under 67.
Green hit a pearler of an approach on the first playoff hole that landed near the flag and bounced past the cup to set up a birdie chance.
The Australian’s smirk as she walked down the fairway may have indicated it was a slight pull with the pin on the left side of the green, the same side as the water.
But it left her with a similar birdie putt that she had on her previous trip down the 18th, roughly 20 minutes earlier.
Hannah Green celebrates victory in LA.Source: FOX SPORTS
There was no way she was missing a second time as Green looked like she possessed nerves of steal as rolled in the decisive putt.
“No, I’m definitely nervous,” Green said with a laugh.
“That wedge probably flew a bit further because of the nerves coming in.
“But, no, I don’t think I’d be doing this, or be in contention, if I wasn’t nervous.
“Those are the feeling that you want when you’re out here. That’s what makes you want to do it over and over again.”
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As for her comeback for the ages, Green revealed that freedom that came with being so far back as holes were running out inspired her birdie blitz.
“I felt like I was doing what I said I wanted to do yesterday – hit more greens – but I felt like it was quite difficult to actually get it close to the greens,” Green said.
“I felt like I was giving myself good opportunities, but I had so many downhill putts and you just can’t really be aggressive with them.
“I honestly didn’t really think I was in the tournament still. I was like ‘oh well, I’ll just go for as many pins as possible’ and obviously got on a nice stretch there.
“I kind of thought the (eagle) putt that I missed on 16 was kind of the crucial moment. So, I’m just fortunate enough that I at least got into the playoff.
“I had that putt, obviously very similar line in regulation, so I felt somewhat comfortable but it was still a tough putt.
“I’m just really glad it went in the hole.”
The Los Angeles course has been a happy hunting ground for Green.
She won this very tournament in 2023 and 2024, winning for the first time in a playoff.
Green collected winner’s cheques worth US$450,000 and US$562,500 on those occasions.
She chose a good week to be on her A game as during the third round, event sponsor JM Eagle announced they were adding US$1 million to the prize purse.
That decision upped the total pot to US$4.75m with Green taking home US$712,500 (A$996,880) for completing the hat-trick.
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Hannah Green with her winner’s cheque.Source: FOX SPORTS
The West Australian is in formidable form heading into the first women’s major of the year – the Chevron Championship.
She had already won on the LPGA this season in Singapore in February, and now sits third on the season-long rankings.
Green followed that performance up with back-to-back wins on home soil at the women’s Australian Open and the Australian WPGA Championship.
During that magical fortnight in Adelaide and on the Gold Coast, Green became the first Australian in more than a decade to win the national open.
She also now possesses eight LPGA victories her name as well as 17 professional titles around the globe, including a major victory at the Women’s PGA Championship in 2019.
The world No.8 may also get closer to usurping world No.6 Minjee Lee as the top-ranked Australia once the rankings are updated after the tournament.