JM EAGLE LA CHAMPIONSHIP

April 28, 2024

Hannah Green

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, Hannah, welcome everyone inside the virtual and in-person media center here at the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro. We do have a number of Aussies on the Zoom here.

Year two, running it back. Just walk me through what this day was like for you.

HANNAH GREEN: It wasn't as a eventful as the last couple days. I was nervous.

And I've never been able to win having a lead into the last hole like that, so, yeah, it is nice to be able to get it done earlier in the round.

Q. Probably get ahead of the Aussies here, but you talk about your love the Sand Belt golf. Seemed like the greens were really firm and fast this weekend. Was that something you felt gave you a little bit of an advantage? And talk about the chip-in on 12.

HANNAH GREEN: Yeah, I think so. I think with my ball flight it kind of helps when I'm able to land the ball a little bit better and be able spin it a little bit more.

It was kind of unpredictable on I think Friday afternoon. Not as much as yesterday. It definitely helps that I also can hit a fade and try and put even more spin on it.

Yeah, I really love it here obviously. It does feel somewhat like home in a sense that I have so many people that come and watch me. There are a lot Aussies come as well and cheer me on.

Q. Chip-in?

HANNAH GREEN: Yeah, the chip-in, I think that was the big momentum. I felt like Grace and I weren't really holing any putts. Not that I was really giving myself many opportunities to make birdie on the front nine, but I felt like that wasn't always the scorable nine. It was always the back nine.

Yeah, I didn't hit a great shot. I think I got really lucky to even be in that position and not be in the bunker, because I don't think I would've made up and down had it been in the bunker. Would've been quite a tough short-sided shot.

Yeah, when that went in it definitely switched the momentum. Then obviously making birdie on the next hole. I think the putt on 15 was the one that really sealed the deal. Kind of unexpected, but went in with pace.

Q. Seemed like the only thing that can stop you at Wilshire is a course renovation. Thoughts on the renovation? You won't be able to three-peat at Wilshire, but you mentioned you would like the new challenge.

HANNAH GREEN: Yeah, I'm not sure where we're playing next year. I haven't actually heard. I joked and said, yeah, I wish they had let me know and approved.

But did look at the flyover on YouTube and I think it's going to look fantastic. Really excited for 2026, and I hope all the members are really excited for us to come back because we certainly enjoy coming here.

Q. Congratulations.

HANNAH GREEN: Thank you.

Q. Three wins inside 12 months. Been five years since that 2019 KPMG. Was there a way of getting through that that you needed time to process to be now at this place where you're winning regularly?

HANNAH GREEN: I think so. I feel like obviously KPMG was a bit of a whirlwind of a week. No one expected me to win and I certainly didn't either. But Portland solidified it the end of 2019, and then obviously we had COVID, so it was kind of hard to go back to defending events.

In 2022 I had my most consistent season yet. Even though I've had three wins in the last 12 months, still didn't play the weekend last week in Houston. Missed a cut earlier in PV.

I feel like when my game is going good it's good. I've still got to tweak some things when I'm not playing so well, but definitely gives me some confidence - not only just playing here at Wilshire, but the win in Singapore, just making sure I stay patient and being able to win tournaments in the back nine.

Q. Fifth Aussie to win five times on the LPGA Tour. You join legends of our game. What does it mean to be amongst them?

HANNAH GREEN: Yeah, it's really cool. Didn't know that stat. Feel like I'm in really great -- it's a great honor to have my name up there along with them, and hopefully I keep pushing and try and get into double digits.

Q. Mon (ph) just wanted me to ask you why are you so clutch?

HANNAH GREEN: I don't know. Something about Wilshire. I think that that makes me go over the line. But thanks, Mon.

Q. I just had a quick question for you about the Olympics. You've been saying this week what a big ambition it is for you. A victory here is not -- I don't know if it's quite a guarantee for you to be in an Olympic spot, but it must make you a virtual shoe-in. Talk a little bit about continuing importance of that to you?

HANNAH GREEN: Yeah, no, it's definitely been on my mind. Obviously still have six or seven weeks until the team is announced, so still a lot that can happen between now and then.

Now that I've had two wins in the season, obviously this jumps me close to the Top 10 in the world and solidifies my spot. Grace unfortunately didn't have weekend she wanted, but I know she's capable of playing really good golf. Gabi Ruffels, Steph Kyriacou, Karis Davidson, they all are obviously striving to be the best they can be.

I don't want to assume I'm on the team. Still fighting for the second spot. Whatever I do between now and KPMG I'm just going to try and play my best golf and hope to make that team.

Q. Thank for that and good luck.

HANNAH GREEN: Thank you.

Q. Congratulations.

HANNAH GREEN: Thank you.

Q. Just follow up, how important is it for you now that you are winning regularly on the LPGA Tour to snag that elusive second major?

HANNAH GREEN: Yeah, I think that's kind of the one that I want the most. You know, not having the best start in Houston last week at The Chevron Championship, but I'm really excited to go to the venues. I haven't played Lancaster, haven't played Seattle. Haven't played -- what is it called?

THE MODERATOR: St. Andrews.

HANNAH GREEN: I have played St. Andrews, but a couple tournaments I haven't played before, which will hopefully be a good thing. Really excited, and I hope that I can play more consistent.

I don't think I played very well in majors last year but I did in 2022, so I up that I am up there in contention and try and get another trophy.

Q. Hannah, congratulations on a great victory on a great golf course.

HANNAH GREEN: Thank you.

Q. When you were a rookie you gave as you wonderful interview that helped inspire our PGA Junior League girls. I said you were a mix of old school and new school. Where are you right now with your golf philosophy? Is it a blend of balance and new school or you using the old school tendencies to propel you?

HANNAH GREEN: Probably a little bit of both. I guess this is my seventh season on tour, so I feel like a veteran now. With the Aussies that I hang out this the second, third year on tour, so trying to help them any way I can.

In terms of golf, I feel like I know the things I need to work on. I know why I played well this week. So just got to make sure that I'm at least acknowledging the good things and the bad things.

Yes, it's great sitting here having a win, but I want to be more consistent this season than I have been. A little bit of both I would say.

Q. If you have three keys for our PGA Junior League girls -- I watched you practice this week. I'm not surprised at about your victory. You looked dialed in. Do you have three keys for successful golf or life for the junior league kids?

HANNAH GREEN: I guess with golf and life it's always make sure that you enjoy yourself. There are some tough times when you play golf. You're not always in this position I'm in right now with a trophy right next to me. Making sure you're enjoying yourself, not being too hard on yourself, having fun. That makes a big difference if you're just getting into golf or stating golf.

If you're not sure what to practice, short game is always important. It's always the final thing that gets you into the hole. Whether you're hitting the ball good or bad, if you can rely on your short game it can really save you some shots.

Yeah, go play as much golf as possible. Don't beat balls on the range all day. Golf you're not hitting off a perfect surface every time. Sometimes even if you hit it perfectly on the range, when you get out there you might not really love the tee shot, whatever it may be. Might not hit it perfect.

So going out and playing as much as possible if you can is also a nice thing to do.

Q. Lastly, if I can, a significant moment for a person in your life that helped inspire you -- for the kids -- that kind of helped you keep pushing for this dream. Here you are a champion on the LPGA Tour?

HANNAH GREEN: I guess my parents. They've always kept me in check. They've always supported me no matter what I wanted to do. When I wanted to become a professional golfer they were all for it.

They don't get to come out as much as I would like. You know, it's quite far living especially in Perth. But they always watch every tournament that I play, no matter what the hour is.

So my parents are definitely one of my role models in that sense. But in the golfing world, Karrie Webb has been huge. Even my husband has really helped me a lot being also professional golfer. So I have a lot of really good people around me that inspire me.

Q. I'm guessing Ritchie isn't still there with you. He's a man of few words. What were his parting words to you last week?

HANNAH GREEN: Oh, last week. So yeah, he was with me. We were staying in the same house. We had housing.

He actually said that he felt like both Minjee and I were in a good spot so really wasn't too concerned.

Obviously Minjee didn't have the result she was after this week, but feel like she's not far off either.

Yeah, he said he wasn't concerned with our results in Houston, which is nice. Hopefully we both continue to play well throughout the year and have some more trophies like this next to us.

Q. Is there not one thing he leaves you with, pearl of wisdom?

HANNAH GREEN: Yeah, I mean, he texts me all the time and says, just keep pushing. Sometimes he gives me a little bit of crap and says, you can get it done earlier in the round.

Yeah, like you said, man of few words. He said that I shouldn't be concerned with the result at Chevron. He knew I was coming into this event, being a place that I really enjoy.

Also with the venues that we have throughout the season he said he wasn't concerned. He said, just keep going what we're working on. Not that that's that much -- as professional golfers I feel like we don't have to do big changes. It's little things here and there that we might not see week to week.

Q. What's your go-to at the Great White Cafe?

HANNAH GREEN: The breakfast sandwich. That was my go-to this year. It's like a burger bun. It's not very Heathy. It was a burger bun, bacon, cheesy hash, eggs, and avocado. And special sauce. So maybe tomorrow I'll pop in before I fly.