Hannah Green

When Hannah Green won a major in 2019, it caught many by surprise. Now, the 23-year-old Australian heads into the 2020 AIG Women’s Open as one of the favourites, and she’s expecting to feel right at home.

After visiting St Andrews last year with 2018 Women's Open Champion Georgia Hall, the reigning Women’s PGA Champion Hannah Green learnt a bit more about the history of golf. In doing so, she gained a newfound appreciation for the AIG Women's Open.

“It’s amazing to play,” Green said of the event. “We get to play some of the best venues in the UK, so I think we’re really spoiled in that sense.”

Green rose to global prominence in golf with her stunning wire-to-wire victory at the Women’s PGA Championship in 2019, followed up by another LPGA Tour win just a month later. After taking up the game at the age of nine, it has not taken Green long to reach the top of the game.

Yet while the Australian is familiar with windy conditions, she confesses she does not have the same experience on links courses. She hopes to change that fact soon, however, and is excited to learn the intricacies of courses like Royal Troon, the venue for the 2020 AIG Women's Open.

“I come from Perth so I’m used to a little bit of wind but not necessarily trying to play links golf, so I think it really tests all aspects of your game. That’s one thing I really enjoy and have got to work on!”

Green, whose mother hails from Fraserburgh in northern Scotland, has strong memories of Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson duelling for the Claret Jug at Royal Troon in 2016, and hopes she too can write her name into the club’s incredible list of champions.

"I’ve heard many good things about Royal Troon, and obviously everyone has heard of the golf course and knows how good it is. I’m just really excited to get out there and play another major championship, and Troon would be an awesome venue to win at.”

"To play the AIG Women’s Open and actually be half-Scottish, I’ll have a lot of family members supporting me. So just to be able to play true links golf will be a really good test for all of us to try and lift that trophy at the end of the week."

Australians have had a great deal of success in the AIG Women's Open, with Corinne Dibnah, Karen Lunn and three-time Champion Karrie Webb all winning the event, and Green will be hoping to continue that tradition in August.

Given her Scottish heritage and new-found enchantment with the history of the game, the 23-year-old considers the AIG Women’s Open to be her home major, and one she wants to claim more than any other.

“It’s definitely been the major that I’ve always wanted to win, being so close to home with my Scottish heritage. I hope that one day I’ll be able to lift the trophy and make Scotland proud.”

Now, with a major in her back pocket, passion in her heart and Scottish blood in her veins, Green is itching to get to Royal Troon and claim all the spoils at the AIG Women’s Open.