Five-time LPGA Tour winner Hannah Green has broken into the world’s top 10 for the first time after overtaking Minjee Lee as Australia’s highest-ranked golfer.
Hannah Green has taken a giant step towards sealing another Olympic berth, overtaking Minjee Lee to become Australia’s highest-ranked women’s golfer for the first time.
Green’s impressive and successful defense of her Los Angeles Championship title, her second LPGA Tour win of the year and third in 12 months, has sent the West Australian from 18th to 8th in the world.
Her Perth teammate Lee dropped three places to ninth in the new rankings released in the US on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
Green’s rise not only elevated the former major winner into the top 10 for the first time, a goal she has been pursuing for years, but also almost certainly secures the 27-year-old a spot on the the Australian Games for Paris 2024.
Green and Lee wore the green and gold in Tokyo and now look like candidates to also fly the Australian flag in France in August.
The two highest ranked male and female players as of June 17 will earn spots.
While Green remains wary of her talented younger compatriots, the reality is that world No. 82 Grace Kim, who collapsed in Los Angeles at the weekend after enjoying a four-shot lead at the halfway point, or Gabriela Ruffels (83) or Steph Kyriacou (88) would need to win the US Open in early June and another major event to have any hope of overtaking Green and Lee.
“The Olympics have definitely been on my mind,” Green said as she savored her fifth LPGA Tour victory.
“Obviously we still have six or seven weeks until the team is announced, so a lot can still happen between now and then.
“Now that I’ve had two wins on the season, obviously this takes me into the top 10 in the world and solidifies my place.
“Unfortunately, Grace didn’t have the weekend she wanted, but I know she is capable of playing very good golf.
“Gabi Ruffels, Steph Kyriacou, Karis Davidson, they’re all obviously striving to be the best they can be.
“I don’t want to take it for granted that I’m on the team. I’m still fighting for second place.”
After joining world number one, American Nelly Korda, as the second player to win multiple LPGA Tour events in 2024, Green says she hopes to continue inspiring Australia’s next generation of golfers.
She believes that getting out on the field, rather than carrying balls on practice fields, is the key to developing a youngster’s game.
“With golf and life, you always have to make sure you enjoy yourself,” Green said.
“There are tough times when you play golf. You’re not always in this position I’m in now with a trophy by my side.
“Making sure you’re having fun, not being too hard on yourself, having fun. That makes a big difference if you’re just starting out or starting to play golf.
“Go play as much golf as you can. Don’t hit balls on the course all day. In golf, you’re not always hitting on a perfect surface.
“Sometimes, even if you hit it perfectly on the course, when you come out, you may not like the tee shot, whatever it is. You may not hit it perfectly.
“So getting out there and playing as much as possible, if possible, is a good thing too.”
AAP
