Hannah Green – photo Alex Slitz Getty Images
Hannah Green’s consecutive opening rounds of 65 at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers has left her just two shots from the 36-hole leader and with just one round to go in the 54 hole event, she is well-placed to contend for her fourth LPGA Tour title.
Green’s form in 2023 has been a roller coaster with a win earlier in the year and a recent 4th placing although, in three of her last four starts, she has not made the weekend but, despite a poor record in this event, which has seen her miss her two previous cuts, she finds herself very much in the mix.
“I’ve actually never played well at Walmart,” said Green. “I don’t have a good record of making the Sunday. You can’t really think about that. You just got to try and hit every shot. I know it sounds boring and everyone says that, but that’s what you’re trying to do out there.
It’s hard because the scoring is so low you feel like if you’re not under par early you’re really going to fall behind. Tomorrow, even if I am a couple back, you just never know what can happen. Someone could shoot honestly 10-under par and just come from nowhere.”
Green has recently returned from a three-week break back in Perth which has enabled her to recharge the batteries to some extent.
“I did decide to take Cincinnati off so I could have three solid weeks in Australia. I’ve always known that’s always good for my game usually, having a bit of time off. I feel like when you have an off-season I come out performing pretty well.
“I think making sure that I had time away from the game was the most important thing — even if I spent all three weeks away from the golf course.”
Green trails Hae Ran Ryu by two shots, the Korean yet toi win an LPGA Tour event.
Grace Kim, Karis Davidson and Lydia Ko are the next best of the Australasians in a share of 36th place, Ko slipping from her overnight share of 2nd place, while Su Oh is 47th and Stephanie Kyriacou 55th.
