Hannah Green’s Third LA Title Recalls Historic Australian Feats

Australian Hannah Green’s surge to a third JM Eagle LA Championship title has drawn inevitable comparisons with some of the most storied stretches in Australian women’s golf. In a tournament that has become her personal stage, Green rallied from six shots behind to claim her eighth LPGA Tour victory. This feat positions her in rare company historically as she approaches the year’s first women’s major.

A Rare Streak in Modern LPGA History

Green’s comeback at El Caballero Country Club was one for the ages. She began the final day two shots off the pace but quickly fell six behind when Kim Sei-young chipped in for eagle at the 11th. What followed was a back-nine charge reminiscent of famous Sunday surges in major golf history. Green reeled off five birdies in six holes, including a run of four consecutive birdies from the 13th to 16th, displaying an aggressive approach more typical of golfers with little left to lose than those still in contention.

Her four-under final round 68 brought her to 17-under for the tournament, joining Kim and Im Jin-hee in a playoff. This marked her third LA Championship crown, but notably her first secured via a playoff. The decisive moment came when she holed a curling 12-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole, echoing legendary sudden-death victories such as Karrie Webb’s playoff triumphs earlier this century.

It is rare for Australians on the LPGA Tour to produce such relentless winning form leading up to a major. Green has now claimed four wins from her last five starts: Singapore’s HSBC Women’s World Championship and both the Australian Open and WPGA at home preceded this latest American success. No Australian woman had won multiple times before the season’s first major since Karrie Webb accomplished that milestone in 2014.

Cementing Status Among Australia’s Best

Green’s latest triumph pushes her career tally to eight LPGA wins, drawing her level with Rachel Hetherington for fourth place among all Australian women on tour. Only Karrie Webb (41), Jan Stephenson (16), and Minjee Lee (11) stand above her, each a major-winning icon in their own right. For Green, now ranked world number eight, these statistics are not mere numbers but proof of sustained excellence over several seasons.

Her affinity for the LA Championship stands out regardless of venue. Wilshire Country Club hosted her previous two victories in 2023 and 2024, but course renovations moved this year’s edition to El Caballero for only its second time. Green adapted seamlessly. Her record since 2021 at this event includes not just three victories but also runner-up honors in 2022 and a tie for third in 2021. Across those six editions, she has carded an extraordinary 22 rounds in the 60s out of 24 played, a mark rarely matched even by dominant figures like Annika Sörenstam or Lorena Ochoa during their prime runs.

Green admitted after Sunday’s win that being so far back spurred a fearless style. “I honestly didn’t really think I was in the tournament still,” she said. That sense of freedom produced one of her finest closing stretches yet. Even so, she acknowledged nerves persisted at every key moment, sentiments familiar to champions across generations.

Prize money for this year’s championship reflected its growing prestige, with Green collecting $712,500 AUD after sponsors boosted the purse by $1 million dollars.

Eyes Turn to Chevron Major After Historic Run

As anticipation builds for Houston’s Chevron Championship, the first women’s major of 2026, Green arrives as arguably the hottest player on tour. Her form invites inevitable comparisons not only with Webb’s golden era but also with other iconic pre-major runs by global stars over recent decades.

Green herself noted the challenge ahead. “It’s going to be really hard to come back down to earth next week,” she said after victory celebrations concluded. With a flight booked directly from Los Angeles to Houston and little time for rest or reflection, history will watch closely if Hannah Green can translate her remarkable streak into another chapter worthy of Australian sporting legend.