Hannah Green birdies final 3 holes to win HSBC Women’s World Championship

When Hannah Green rolled in a 20-footer for birdie on 17 on Sunday, she knew she had a chance. But could she make her third straight birdie and win the HSBC Women’s World Championship outright? She could. And she did.

Tied with Celine Boutier on the 18th tee, Green hit a 6-iron into the green and then drained the winning putt from about 40 feet away. Boutier, playing in the group ahead, took a two-shot lead when she made a long birdie putt on 15, but she parred the final three to shoot a bogey-free 67 and take the clubhouse lead at 12 under.

That’s when Green turned it on. Playing in the final group, Green rolled in a short birdie putt on 16, canned a tricky birdie look on 17 and then capped it with her walk-off winner on the 18th at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore.

It’s the fourth career LPGA Tour victory for the 27-year-old Australian pro.

“I knew I needed to go today in order to win because the conditions were a little bit softer today than the last few days,” Green said. “I was talking to my coach on the phone last night and he’s like, ‘Try and get as many birdies in early as possible.’ I like to make things a bit interesting and birdied the last three.

“A few years ago, I almost had this trophy in my hand and made two bogeys coming down the last,” she continued. “Almost like it was meant to be today for me, holing those two putts today on the last two holes. I’m so happy to have this in my hands.”

Ayaka Furue held the 54-hole lead at 10 under, with Green two back to start the day and Boutier three off the lead. But Furue didn’t make her first birdie until the 14th, and she played the last four in four over.

Green won despite hitting the least amount of fairways in the field all week (28 of 56), although she ranked near the top of the field for greens in regulation, averaging 13.5 GIR per round, highlighted by hitting 16 of 18 on Sunday. She closed with her third straight 67 after she opened the week with a 74.

“This is the earliest I’ve won in a season I guess on the LPGA,” Green said. “I don’t actually think it will change too much to what I will play this year. I still think because of the Olympics and two swings to Europe that I will continue with the schedule I put in place. But it is nice just to have the flexibility. So I’m excited to play tournament of chance next year as well because I haven’t played it before because I was busy this year. But yeah, it’s nice to be able to have that.”