PGA Tour rookie Hannah Green is flying the Australian flag with gusto. Her first year on the biggest stage in women’s golf was always going to be a steep learning curve but as is often the case in professional sport, the fastest way to improvement is to get out of your comfort zone and she has done just that. The 21-year-old from Perth’s Mt Lawley Golf Club started her new life on tour with a bang earlier this year, securing top-10 finishes in her first two events in America. That’s some debut. Her performances ever since have reinforced why many rate her as a rising star of the women’s game. This is how she made it ▶▶▶
MY DAD IS THE GOLFER IN THE FAMILY, SO AS A KID I WOULD GO OUT WITH HIM ON A SUNDAY MORNING AND WALK WITH HIM. I was about nine years old and I was into other sports at the time. One day I decided to hit some shots with his clubs and immediately got the bug. Not long after, I started to participate in junior clinics and then got my own set of clubs. There would be no stopping me from that point.
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YEARS LATER, I DECIDED TO GO TO COMO SECONDARY COLLEGE IN PERTH. It had a great golf program and I knew if I needed to take time off to play a tournament, the school would be accommodating. It was when I got into my final two years of high school that I first thought about turning pro. In truth, it wasn’t until those final two years that I finally started to believe that I was good enough to make a living out of golf.
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I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT REALLY HELPED ME WITH THE DECISION OF GOING PRO WAS THE KARRIE WEBB SERIES. That was the first time I had watched an LPGA tournament in person. Just meeting Karrie for the first time and being able to ask her questions and to see her play made me realise how much harder I had to work and how much more I wanted it.
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THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF TRANSITIONING FROM THE AMATEUR RANKS TO THE PRO TOUR WAS THE TRAVEL. When I was an amateur, I would have most of my trips organised by someone else and always have plenty of time to go back home to Perth. My first year on tour, I was away for about four months straight and I had to organise where I was staying and how I was going to get there by myself. I wasn’t ready to be my own travel agent but I had to learn very quickly.
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I DEFINITELY WOULDN’T BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE OF ALL OF MY TEAM BACK IN AUSTRALIA AND ALSO WITHOUT THE PLAYERS ON TOUR. Everyone has been so welcoming to the rookies on tour. I feel that I am surrounding myself with people that really care about me, not only here on the LPGA but also my coaches, friends and family.
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YOU HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES TO DO WHAT I DO AND I THINK THE BIGGEST ONE HAS BEEN NOT DOING WHAT OTHER 21-YEAR-OLDS DO. I play roughly 30 tournaments a year so I am always away from home. When I do get home I just want to relax. My parents don’t travel with me very often… maybe two or three events a year.
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WHAT DRIVES ME TO PURSUE A CAREER ON TOUR? I JUST LOVE GOLF. I grew up playing sport and have always been very competitive. Golf has taken me to so many amazing places and I have met so many incredible people along this journey. I think I am very fortunate to make a living swinging golf clubs. Growing up, I knew when I wanted to turn professional it was going to be difficult both on and off the course. Everyone has emotions and some get affected more then others. But I think because it’s my first year on tour I really haven’t been too stressed out. I’m just soaking it all in and really enjoying it.
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I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE. Unlike a lot of young players, I really haven’t set any goals for the next 10 years. I would obviously love to have a successful career. But more than anything, I would love to have a healthy career so that I can keep playing for another 10 years.
