Australia’s Hannah Green drained a outstanding 30-foot birdie putt on the closing gap to edge Celine Boutier of France and win the HSBC Women’s World Championship by a stroke in Singapore on Sunday.
The US LPGA Tour’s flagship occasion in Asia had seemed prefer it was heading for a playoff after Boutier’s five-under 67 put her within the clubhouse at 12-under par and for Green to attract degree with birdies on the sixteenth and seventeenth.
But the Australian accomplished a hat-trick of birdies over the closing holes to grab victory when her snaking putt on the 18th inexperienced curled into the cup to an enormous ovation.
“I knew I needed to at least birdie the last to win by one,” mentioned world quantity 29 Green, who was drenched in champagne by her fellow Australian opponents in celebration after ending the event on 13-under 275.
“As soon as that putt went in, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I’ve won!’,” mentioned the 27-year-old, who lifted her fourth LPGA Tour title.
“You have to take these highs when they come because it doesn’t always come and golf can be a learning sport sometimes.
“Celine played great today but she didn’t end up with the trophy in her hands. But she should still be proud of how she performed under this pressure,” mentioned Green.
It was the Australian’s first win in Asia and in addition eased the heartbreak of ending second in Singapore three years in the past.
“I almost won the championship in 2021 when I was playing it for the first time,” mentioned Green.
“I remembered I three-putted 17 and then three-putted again on 18 to lose. It feels great to have this trophy in my hands now.”
‘It was frustrating’
Playing within the group forward of Green on the Tanjong course at Sentosa Golf Club, Boutier was unable to make a birdie over her closing holes to place strain on the Australian and missed an awesome probability on 17.
“I knew my putt (on 17) was going to be important but it ended up being short-sided. It was frustrating,” mentioned world quantity three Boutier.
“I gave myself chances. I made some putts and also missed some. But such things happen and I can’t be too mad about my round today.”
Ko Jin-young of South Korea, who was defending her 2022 and 2023 titles, briefly threatened to get into the combination when she drained a monster 90-foot birdie putt on the eleventh.
But two bogeys adopted and her one-under 71 noticed her end six pictures behind Green on seven-under 281.
Japan’s Ayaka Furue took a two-shot lead into the ultimate spherical Sunday however had a day to overlook, finishing a three-over card of 75 with a scruffy double bogey on the 18th to complete six behind taking part in accomplice Green.
World primary Lilia Vu, who began the day 5 pictures again of the lead, withdrew throughout her closing spherical due to sickness.