Hannah Green – file photo image Getty / LPGA
West Australian Hannah Green produced the round of her career on day two of the Ford Championship in Gilbert, Arizona.
A stunning closing nine of 29, which included birdies on her closing six holes, over the Seville Golf and Country Club has completed a round of 61 and provided the 27-year-old with the lead in the US$2.25 million event as she chases a second win in four starts on the LPGA Tour this season.
A few players still on the course could potentially catch her but Green appears likely to head into the weekend with the lead.
Green won in Singapore earlier this month, her fourth win on the LPGA Tour and she is now nicely placed to add another.
“I don’t know, I’ve Just been really motivated this off-season,” said Green when referring to her strong start to the season. “I played the Australian Open in December last year and took six weeks off.
“It was more the mental recharge that I needed. Also didn’t help that I had a wedding to also get ready for. I had about four weeks to get ready for Thailand and Singapore, but I really worked hard in those four weeks.”
Green married her long-time partner and fellow golf professional, Jarrod Felton, recently.
“It’s nice to see that that’s working out so early in the season. I just want to make sure I’m consistent throughout the year. Last week I didn’t play my best golf, so I just want to make sure I’m putting myself in these positions and dealing with these experiences.”
Green’s round was recorded despite not feeling in good health overnight.
“I wasn’t really feeling that great overnight. Kind of have a bit of a runny nose and sore throat, so wasn’t expecting that much which is maybe a good thing.
“I missed short putt on the first and I was like, oh, okay, that’s fine. I really took advantage of the shorter holes we had. I also holed a couple really long putts. Maybe even moved the hole. It was that firm.
“But just felt really good out there. Yeah, just had a really nice morning.”
New Zealander Lydia Ko. Chasing one further win to gain admission to the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, also had a day out with a round of 64 to move within three of Green.
“Yesterday was a little frustrating,” said Ko. “I didn’t have my A-game but I thought was playing better than I scored. Obviously to finish off with a birdie on the last yesterday I think made dinner taste a little better.
“You know, normally any other golf course you shoot 69 and you’re like oh, that was a good round. Hopefully can keep building on that. When you’re seeing 8- and 9-under and you’re 3-under and you’re on the cut line, it’s I think a very unique mindset that you have to come in.”
Ko was asked about the upcoming Olympics and her thoughts on her chances.
“It’s pretty important for me. I think every Olympic year has been the one where I’m hoping to be peaking in August. I played Rio as the No. 1 ranked player and I played Tokyo where I hadn’t won for a couple years, so I wasn’t going in there with a lot of expectations and I was able to medal in both games.
“I’m hoping I’ll be able to give myself a good chance and be one of those standing on the podium at the end of the week. But it’s just a treat to be able to even compete in the Olympics. I think in the last two we’ve had COVID and Zika, so I think it’s been a little bit unique and not the most ideal situation.
“So hopefully — knock on wood — that there is going to be nothing. And I think Paris is going to be great. We play in Europe between July to August anyway, so I think it’s just going to be a great stretch for us. I’m not really sure if I’m going to be playing in like another five plus years, so this could potentially be my last Olympics. I’m just — I want to enjoy this last one potentially.”
