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.”
SCORES
Texas Open Scott’s final tune-up ahead of Masters
Adam Scott – file image Australian Golf Media
The Valero Texas Open is the last PGA Tour event ahead of next week’s Masters Tournament but only Adam Scott amongst the six Australians in the field for next week’s first major of the year will play this week’s event.
Scott has regularly changed his schedule ahead of majors, trying to find the perfect means of preparing for the events he considers the most important in the latter stages of his career and this week is no exception.
A former winner of the event in 2010, Scott has not played the Valero Texas Open since 2018 and, in fact, has played only once in the past 12 years but he is keen to rekindle some good memories ahead of next week’s task.
“Yeah, it’s nice to be back,” said Scott in today’s media conference. “I haven’t played a lot here over the last several years, really since I won and defended I don’t think I’ve had many appearances here.
“But it is nice to come back, nice to remind myself when I see myself with a trophy in the clubhouse and stuff like that that there’s some good golf in there and hopefully I find myself playing some good golf here this week leading into Augusta. Obviously on everyone’s mind.”
Scott has mixed from this to date this season but appears happy with where things are heading into this week.
“As much as we all think about next week, I’m here, I want a good result. I’d like to win a trophy, that’s still what I’m trying to do out here. It’s been a long time since I have lifted a trophy. I feel like my game is in that place where it could turn any week. It’s all there, I need to somehow put myself in that position and make a putt at the right time and get back in that spot
“I was playing pretty nicely on the west coast, although I didn’t putt my best for the first time in a while, and then I had a pretty flat couple weeks in Florida, just wasn’t on my game at all there.
“Nothing that I’m concerned about at all. I had a nice practice week last week. I feel like even playing nine holes today, I feel very confident and comfortable with where my swing is at and every part of my game. So I’m looking forward to getting going this week and hopefully having a good week and building up some confidence to go into next week and have another great week.
“I think when I adjusted (his schedule) in the past it was a little bit difficult. I think I’m pretty open to just doing whatever I feel is best now. Juggling lots of different factors at this point in my career, I end up just relying on like a gut instinct of what feels right and what’s not, and it’s even less about does this course suit me and is this the right week to play if I feel like I need to play. I thought this week was a great week for me to play.”
Scott was asked if he had been able to fit in a scouting trip to Augusta ahead of next week and he responded;
“I didn’t. Again, most years I do. I don’t have tons of time just to float up there and I thought it wasn’t the big priority for me leading into this Masters, I think. I’ve played there a lot. I know they changed the second and I know they’ve re-laid a couple of greens, but I think I can go in there at this point feeling pretty comfortable and should be confident that I know the golf course well enough on a couple practice rounds Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Scott joins fellow Australians Aaron Baddeley and Harrison Endycott and New Zealander Ryan Fox in this week’s field.
Field
Alker loses to Goosen in last hole drama
Agonising loss for Alker
In rather bizarre circumstances, New Zealand’s Steve Alker has finished runner-up to Retief Goosen at the PGA Tour Champions’ Galleri Championship at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage in California.
Alker and Goosen were tied playing the final hole today and both missed the fairway at the par 5.
Goosen would play first and topped his 4 iron into the water short of the green following which Alker made the decision to attack the par 5 himself instead of laying up and forcing Goosen to save par from 70 metres out.
With a 5 iron in hand, Alker too would find the water and although he was able to drop near the green he failed to get up and down and was forced to watch Goosen hole a 12 footer for par and win the title.
Alker would later explain the decision.
“Yeah. I mean, it was just a really good solid 5-iron,” said Alker. “I had a super lie, could almost hit driver off the lie in the semi-rough there, that’s how good the lie was.
“If I hit rescue, then I flush it and it’s gone through the green. So just got a little high on the face, a little grassy. It got over. I kind of flew the front, but just got maybe a little unlucky.”
Alker eventually shared second place with Ricardo Gonzalez and Alex Cjeka further highlighting the cost of his decision.
Alker, however remains on top of the Charl Schwab table having recorded a win and now two runner-up finishes in five starts in season 2024.
Monday qualifier Greg Chalmers finished 9th which should earn him a start in the next PGA Tour Champions event.
Leaderboard
Rookie Hira Naveed impressive runner-up in LPGA Tour event
Naveed finished two shots behind the winner Nelly Korda
Perth’s LPGA Tour rookie, Hira Naveed has produced a remarkable second place at the Ford Championship, in Arizona this week, coming from the cutline through 36 holes to finish two shots behind the winner Nelly Korda.
Naveed who gained her LPGA Tour playing rights via the Q School in December which included a last round of 65 to do so, produced weekend rounds of 65 and 66 to storm into second position
Naveed played on the secondary Epson Tour over the last three years following time at Pepperdine University in the US, but, in just her third LPGA Tour event as a cardholder, she has produced a finish that will yield a cheque for US$206,000.
After just missing the cut in her opening event of the season at last week’s Fir Hills Championship, Naveed has provided her ongoing prospects on the LPGA Tour with a great boost.
Victorian Gabi Ruffels shared 13th place with New Zealand’s Lydia Ko while second-round leader and Naveed’s fellow West Australian, Hannah Green, finished 21st.
Leaderboard
Mariajo Uribe survives final round duel to win NSW Open
Mariajo Uribe – image Ladies European Tour Tristan Jones
34-year-old Colombian, Mariajo Uribe, has survived a last-round battle with England’s Bronte Law and emerged the Women’s New South Wales Open winner at the Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club on the Central Coast of NSW.
Beginning the final round with a three-shot lead over Taiwan’s Peiying Tsai and by four over Law, Uribe extended her lead when she birdied the first, but consecutive bogeys in the middle of her opening nine and an outward nine of 32 by Law had the pair tied at 12 under as they headed to the back nine.
The lead would then switch on several occasions before a birdie from six feet at the 54th and final hole by Uribe saw her secure her first title in 13 years and her first on the Ladies European Tour.
Uribe, who won the US Women’s Amateur Championship in 2007 at the age of 17, has not achieved the heights her amateur career suggested it might and, with retirement pending following this year’s Olympics in Paris, the victory comes as an important late milestone in a lengthy career on the LPGA Tour and in more recent times elsewhere.
“I’m happy, really happy,” Uribe beamed after the win. “I said in my head that 15 under was the number this week, so that’s what I went out to do,”
“I thought it was going to be a shootout of birdies. I struggled today with my putting but I knew the birdies were out there.
“I know Bronte (Law) well; she’s a close friend, and I said to myself, I’m going to play good, and if I lose, then I’m OK with that.”
Law will extend her lead on the 2024 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit as a result of her runner-up finish just one behind the winner, having won an event in Morocco in February.
Both players led at various stages over the closing nine and it came down to a final hole duel which Uribe won via a superb approach to 6 feet to which Law was unable to respond.
Spain’s Marta Martin finished alone in 3rd place although four shots from the winner.
20-year-old Queensland amateur Justice Bosio did best of the Australians when she finished in an impressive share of 6th despite three late bogeys.
SCORES
Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe Duran leads NSW Women’s Open
Mariajo Uribe – image LET Tristan Jones
34-year-old Colombian Mariajo Uribe Duran has taken a three-shot lead at the NSW Open at Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club on the Central Coast of NSW, the former US Amateur Champion reeling off a round of 65 in today’s second round to lead the event into tomorrow’s final round.
Uribe Duran played the LPGA Tour for several seasons but in recent times she has played the secondary tour in the US. Making a decision to retire after the Olympics in Paris, Uribe has dedicated herself to playing wherever she can ahead of the Olympics and her class has shone through over the opening 36 holes of this Ladies European Tour event.
Uribe’s seven birdie round was the best of the day and equaled the round of 65 established by the opening round leader, Justice Bosio of Queensland.
Uribe Duran leads by three over Taiwanese golfer, Pei Ying Tsai with Bosio and LET Order of Merit leader, Bronte Law, tied in third place one further back.
Leaderboard
Adam Scott reportedly withdraws from Olympic consideration
Adam Scott – file photo image Australian Golf Media
Australian Adam Scott has reportedly withdrawn from consideration for the Australian Olympic Team.
According to a report in Golf Digest, Scott is amongst six golfers to notify the International Golf Federation of their decision to withdraw from consideration including Brooks Koepka and Tyrell Hatton.
As it stands at this stage, Scott would not make the team as the leading two players in the world ranking from each country earn the right to play in Paris and Jason Day and Min Woo Lee ( provided they are available) are the two eligible at present.
Final selections for both the men and women fields will be made from the Official World Golf Rankings in mid June
Scott also made himself unavailable for the 2016 and 2021 Olympics, expressing disinterest in the idea of professional golf being part of the Olympic program.
Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are the two Australians currently in line for selection in the women’s Olympic team.
Hannah Green’s brilliant 61 in Arizona
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.”
SCORES
Consecutive NSW women’s events get underway on Central Coast
Women’s professional golf returns to Australian shores this week for the first of two events jointly sanctioned between the WAPGA and Ladies European Tours.
The Women’s NSWOpen and the Australian Women’s Classic will be played at the Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club on the Central Coast of NSW and at the Bonville Golf Resort in Coffs Harbour, both events offering prizemoney of €300,000 and for those not otherwise qualified the chance to leapfrog their way onto the Ladies European Tour.
Australian Kirsten Rudgeley heads the Australian challenge in terms of world ranking while New Zealander Momoka Kobori whose brother, Kazuma, took the PGA Tour of Australasia by storm this year by winning three events and leading the Order of Merit, appears likely to feature in the finish.
Kobori is the defending champion of the NSW Open.
West Australian, Rudgeley, produced several impressive performances on the Ladies European Tour last year during her rookie season there and is expected to do well amongst the Australians in the field.
Kobori has already won two events on the Ladies European Tour’s secondary tour and earlier this year finished runner-up in a Webex TPS Series in Australia.
Amongst those from the LET in the field are last year’s Order of Merit winner, Trichat Gleenglab, and the current leader this season Bronte Law.
Also a consideration will be Singaporean Shannon Tan who has already won in Kenya and in Australia in 2024 and is currently just behind Law on the LET Order of Merit.
Anne Van Dam from the Netherlands is a former LPGA Tour player with four LET wins to her name and as one of the longer hitters in the female game and as the leading world-ranked player in the field, her performance will be watched with interest.
The event is using Magenta Shores for the first occasion, and the links layout will provide a strong test of the event which gets underway on Friday.
Entries
Gabi Ruffels records best LPGA Tour finish
Gabi Ruffels – file photo
23-year-old Victorian Gabriella Ruffels has produced her best LPGA Tour finish with a share of 3rd place at the Fir Hills Se Ri Pak Championship in California.
Ruffles bounced back from a double bogey during the middle of her final round with two late birdies in the blustery conditions to finish just one behind the playoff between Nelly Korda and Ryan O’Toole won by Korda.
Ruffels moved into contention with a third round of 65 on Saturday and through eight holes today she had a share of the lead but then came the double bogey at the 9th before the two late birdies led to a final round of 70 and a share of third with Alison Lee.
Ruffels will earn a cheque for US$120,000, a significant jump on her previous best of US$86,000 earned when finishing 24th at last year’s lucrative KPMG Women’s PGA Championship but it is her best finish in an LPGA Tour event after gaining her full playing rights after leading the Epson Tour last season.
Ruffels, who has family connections in the area, has enjoyed staying with her Aunty this week.
“My mom grew up here. This is her hometown, and I’m staying with my aunt this week and my whole extended family lives in this area and I also went to USC. I have a lot of ties to this area and this place. It’s really cool to just be around family this week. I feel very relaxed and at home. It’s been fun.”
Ruffels was a winner and runner-up at the US Women’s Amateur Championship during her amateur days while attending the University of Southern California.
Leaderboard
Aaron Baddeley contends in Florida
Aaron Baddeley – file photo Australian Golf Media
It has been quite some time since Aaron Baddeley contended in a PGA Tour event, with only one top ten in his last fourteen months, but at the halfway stage of the Valspar Championship at the Innisbrook Resort on the west coast of Florida, the now 43-year-old former Victorian finds himself just one off the lead.
Baddeley, who last victory of four on the PGA Tour came back in 2016, retained his status last year by finishing inside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings, added a second round of 70 in inclement conditions to be behind a group of five who lead.
Baddeley had the lead in the event until a messy double bogey at his 12th hole but did well to hold on with a run of six pars to finish off the day in conditions that became increasingly demanding.
“It feels like the game’s sort of right about there,” said Baddeley referring to his recent form.” Just need a little something just to kick it over the edge. Hopefully, today’s round sort of will be a nice little start for that.
“I feel a bit frustrated or disappointed when you don’t get in the mix, especially when you feel like the game’s sort of in a good spot, you’re like, come on, I want to get right in there. I think that’s what, that’s why I’m out here. I want to have a chance to win.”
One or two players were unable to finish their round but their efforts will not impact the leading standings when they finish their rounds early on Saturday morning US time.
Other Australasians in the field, Ryan Fox, Harrison Endycott and Min Woo Lee, will miss the cut.
Leaderboard