Aussie Green wins first major at Women’s PGA Championship

Los Angeles (AFP) – Hannah Green claimed her first major championship on Sunday, the Australian going wire-to-wire and holding off a pack of marquee players to win the Women’s PGA Championship by one stroke.

The 22-year-old Green, who had never won on the LPGA Tour before, sank a four-foot putt for par on the final hole for an even-par 72 and a one-stroke victory over defending champion Park Sung-hyun.

Green overcame an middle round wobble with three bogeys in four holes, but then got back on track with a long birdie putt on 16 to become the first player to win the event wire-to-wire since Taiwan’s Tseng Yani in 2011.

Green posted three birdies and three bogeys to reach a nine-under 279 total at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. 

Park, who birdied her final hole to get to eight-under overall and put added pressure on Green’s finish, fired a four-under 68 on Sunday.

Green had a one-shot lead going into the final round as she sat on a 54 hole lead for the first time in her career with no less than four major champions within striking distance, comprising Park, Ariya Jutanugarn, Park In-be and Danielle Kang.

England’s Mel Reid shot a six-under 66 to finish in a tie for third with American Nelly Korda (71) on six-under 282.

Kang, who won this event two years ago, finished in a tie for fifth with fellow American Lizette Salas, at five-under 283.