Hannah Green – two wins and now a runner-up finish in 2024
Australians Hannah Green and Gabi Ruffels have finished second and tied 3rd respectively in this week’s LPGA Tour event in New Jersey, finishing so close to the game’s hottest player right now, Nelly Korda, an indication of just where the games of Green and Ruffels stand.
Green, already a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour in 2024, began today’s final round two shots behind Korda but by the turn they were tied at 11 under before a battle royale developed over the closing nine holes.
In the end, it was a bogey after missing the green at the 72nd hole which would cost Green her third win of the season but she is the closest player to the ridiculously talented Korda on this year’s standings, Green adding another US$277,000 to her already significant earnings in 2024.
Green has now earned US$1.17 million in 2024 and takes her LPGA Tour career earnings to US$5.7 million.
For Ruffels, it was yet another indication of her climb in women’s professional golf after an outstanding amateur career, including a win and runner-up finish at the US Amateur Championship.
Ruffels dominated the secondary Epson Tour last year to gain access to the LPGA Tour for 2024 and given she missed out on entering the Q School eighteen months ago and was forced back to the Epson Tour may well have been a blessing in disguise.
That Ruffels has recorded three third place finishes in her rookie season and leads the standings in the Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year title, earning close to US$600,000 in the process.
I have little doubt that Ruffels will be winning LPGA Tour events before too long and major championships at that, the daughter of Australian tennis stars Ray Ruffels and Anna Maria Fernandez, capitalising on her amazing sporting genes with classy skills of her own.
But what can we say about Korda? Her win 6th win of the season and the 14th of her career today takes her earnings in 2024 to beyond US$3 million and there is every indication that there is a lot more to come especially with the level of prizemoney in upcoming events.
Oh, my gosh, six,” said Korda referring to her 6th win on 2024. “I can’t even really gather myself right now with that, the head to head that Hannah and I had pretty much all day. Wasn’t my best stuff out there today, but fought really hard on the back nine.
“It was just amazing to share the stage with Hannah. I consider her a pretty good friend out here and it was a lot of fun going head-to-head against her.”
Minjee Lee was the next best of the Australian in a share of 21st place.
