HSBC Women’s World Champs: Green sees red after blowing huge chance in Singapore

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A “bummed” Hannah Green had to be content with second place at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore today after bogeys at the last two holes cost her victory.

Green was leading by a shot as she stepped on to the 17th tee, sitting at 18-under-par with the world No.9, Hyo Joo Kim, in the clubhouse at 17-under after a brilliant, closing 64 today. She had just rolled in a four-metre birdie putt at the par-five 16th hole.

A pair of pars would have done the trick for the 24-year-old from Perth. But Green conceded the outright lead when she three-putted from long range at the par-three 17th, and at the 18th, she hit a perfect drive but tugged her short iron approach left and could not get up and down for par to force a playoff after her birdie putt rattled five metres past the flag.

Green ended up posting a three-under par 69 to finish outright second behind Kim.

“I don’t know, I felt like I wasn’t really playing that great even though the score was all right,” said Green afterwards. “So yeah, a bit bummed to finish that way. But you know, I guess I put myself in that position but hopefully it’s not the last time. Hopefully I can learn from it and do the opposite and maybe make two birdies coming in.”

A highlight was her hole-out for eagle with a wedge a the par-four 14th hole.

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“Yeah, it’s funny, I was saying to my caddie, I finally hit a good drive on that hole and got it down to where I should be,” she said. “And I had about 64 metres to the pin and all week I had not had a yardage from that distance and I was like, ‘Oh, I’d better take a few more practice swings. I haven’t had this yardage for a long time’. And sure enough. I hole out and we just started giggling and laughing at each other. So I said, ‘Oh, maybe I should lay into that more often,’ blah, blah, blah. So that was definitely a big momentum switch.

“I know that when I don’t play well, I kind of get in my own shell and stay away from everyone. So Nate (caddie Nate Blasko) did a good job of trying to pick me back up and just start conversation. So I’m really happy with doing things on the golf course, so not long, not far away.”

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Green was philosophical about her day having moved into the top 15 on the world rankings for the first time last week. “I don’t want to sound obnoxious, but it is nice I’m not playing my best and getting these results,” she said. “I’ve heard it’s a bit warmer in Thailand and a hillier course, so my No.1 goal is to make sure that I make every round and make sure that I’m keeping hydrated. I feel like my driver was a little bit off this week, so if I can get that into gear, I feel like I can be up on top again.”