Hall still in disbelief after winning a Major as a rookie

PETALING JAYA: It’s been more than six months since English golfer Georgia Hall (pic) won the Women’s British Open but she admits the realisation of winning a Major title as a rookie has yet to sink in.

The 22-year-old from Bournemouth stunned her more illustrious rivals at the Royal Lytham and St Annes in August last year to become only the third British winner in the championship’s history after Karen Stupples (2004) and Catriona Matthew (2009).

What made Hall’s feat even more remarkable was the fact that she endured a difficult start to her US LPGA Tour career.

The victory clearly whetted Hall’s appetite for more glory as she nearly nailed a second title three weeks later – coming in second at the Cambia Portland Classic in Oregon.

She completed the season with flying colours by breaking into the top 10 of the Women’s World Golf Ranking.

“To be honest, me winning (British Open) still hasn’t sunk in at all,” said Hall ahead of tomorrow’s US$ 1.5mil ( RM6.1mil) HSBC Women’s World Championship teeoff at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore.

“I still don’t believe I have, even though I know I have, but I still don’t believe it because it’s such ... it’s my dream, my only dream, really, growing up.

“So it’s still strange. The year went by pretty quick but to get that win at the British Open was incredible, and it took a bit of the pressure off me.”

Hall aims to take on the likes of world No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, world No. 2 South Korea’s Park Sung-hyun and defending champion Michelle Wie of the United States for the crown in Singapore this week.

In her debut last year, she only managed tied 48th.

But Hall was quick to stress that she must first rediscover her consistency.

Hall began the new season with a solid ninth-placed result at the Tournament of Champions in Florida but failed to impress in the last three starts.

“I’d love to win it but I think my last few rounds, I had some really good rounds and then I had some poor rounds that kind of got me out of the tournament,” she said.

“I think my main thing is just consistency with four rounds and not throwing a bad round in there.

“I think it’s going to be important this week, because it’s quite a tough golf course.”