A bogey on the 72nd hole of the Mizuho Americas Open cost Hannah Green dearly as she missed out on a title play-off with Nelly Korda by a single stroke.
Green had raced into contention for a sixth LPGA Tour win after a blistering nine-under-par 63 on Saturday saw her paired with third-round leader Korda in the final group on Sunday.
Although Korda held a two-stroke lead on the first tee, Green made a fast start to draw level with her esteemed rival after just two holes. From that point on, the pair juked it out in heavyweight style.
Green took the lead on the seventh only for Korda to draw level again on eight. They then matched each other shot-for-shot to reach the 18th tee tied on -14 where Green found the rough and Korda split the fairway.
A short approach and chip to 15-feet left Green up against it as Korda made a routine par and when the West Aussie couldn’t hole out, Korda was able to record an incredible sixth win in her last seven starts.
World number one Korda was quick to pay tribute to Green, saying: “It was just amazing to share the stage with Hannah. I consider her a pretty good friend out here and it was a lot of fun going head-to-head against her.”
Green’s consolation comes in the form of another bumper payday (approx. AU$415,000) and a further boost to her world ranking. She is also second only to Korda in the 2024 LPGA standings and in a rich vein of form heading into next week’s US Women’s Open.
Hannah Green put up a great fight against the indomitable Nelly Korda (image: Getty Images)
Rudgeley season comes alive in Germany
On the other side of The Pond, fellow Western Australian Kirsten Rudgeley also enjoyed a profitable weekend at the Amundi German Masters on the Ladies European Tour.
The Mount Lawley golfer surged up the leaderboard on the final day thanks to a scintillating round of 65 (-7), which left her at eight-under for the championship in T4th, four shots behind leaders Alexandra Forsterling and Emma Spitz. It was Forsterling who ultimately clinched the title at the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
Rudgeley’s top-five finish was her best of the season so far and she will doubtless take heart from her weekend’s work, which saw her nine-under-par for her closing 36 holes.
Kirsten Rudgeley’s season is looking up (image: Ladies European Tour)
