Aussie will keep doing Prosecco ‘shoeys’ as she hunts a top 10 berth, writes TODD BALYM
IF HANNAH Green’s 2022 season goes according to plan, you might see a few more Prosecco shoeys on the 18th green of golf courses around the world as Australia’s emerging star shoots for a spot in the women’s world top 10.
Green became Australia’s latest viral star last week when vision of her downing a “shoey” after her win in the Victorian Open went wild online.
And while it left an awful taste in the 25-year-old’s mouth - Prosecco and old sweaty golf shoes aren’t the greatest mix - she just might adopt the epic celebration more often in 2022 if she can live out her dreams on the cut-throat LPGA tour.
“It wasn’t near as bad as I imagined it would be, but it wasn’t great, that’s for sure,” Green said.
“Hopefully next time I do it I will be wearing a fresher pair of shoes than what I was.”
The truth is Green’s shoey almost didn’t happen - you tend to forget about dares made with friends while you’re walking down the 18th fairway hoping to close out victory.
But ever since the world No.30 and her best mate, fellow Aussie tour pro Su Oh, became hooked on the F1 Netflix Drive to Survive series, they agreed they’d celebrate Daniel Ricciardo style the next time they lifted a trophy.
“We said whoever wins we have to do one,” Green said.
“I was actually put on the spot a little bit, I had forgotten about it. Obviously there are a lot of things running through my mind when I was coming down the last, and once I actually made the putt to win one of the commentators mentioned it to me.
“The tournament staff asked me what I would like and I went with some Prosecco instead of some beer. And it wasn’t the best- tasting Prosecco because of the shoe, but at least I can say I have done it.”
Last week’s win is just the start for Green. She’s set herself some lofty ambitions for 2022, and isn’t afraid to put the pressure on herself by articulating a goal that she feels is both challenging and d attainable. ttainable
“I would love to have two more wins on the LPGA,” she said.
“It is hard to win out there because there are so many talented players coming through. But if everything works well in my game I don’t see why I can’t be at the top at the end of the week.
“That is a little bit of a goal of mine. If I can achieve those, then I can get myself back closer to the top 10 in the world. I know it’s high expectations for the year, but I feel like I’ve got to push myself a little bit more now that we’re kind of exiting Covid.”
Green is considered one of the contenders in this weekend’s $200,000 The Players Series Murray River in honour of Jarrod Lyle event at Cobram-barooga Golf Club, where men and women battle each other for the prize.
Green was the equal firstround leader on Thursday after sending a warning shot to the men by opening her tournament with an eagle and four birdies on the first six holes.
Her boyfriend Jarryd Felton is also among the field, raising the quirky prospect of partners duelling for the trophy on the final day of play.
“This is my first Players Series event ... I’m excited to see how my game shapes up against the guys,” Green said.
“Hopefully we both play well and who knows what can happen on the weekend, maybe we’ll get paired together. It could be interesting, we will see what happens.
“Hopefully it (we are both fighting for the win) does come to that, that’s what we’re both here for - we both want to get our name on the trophy.”
It’s been a wildly successful yet frustrating few months for Green.
She pocketed a “life-changing” $1 million bonus last year for the LPGA’S season-long AON Risk Reward Challenge (lowest score on designated holes at select events). But on a personal front she’s struggled - like all West Australians - with the difficulty of being able to return home because of Covid-19 border issues.
While she got to spend 10 weeks at home over the summer after serving quarantine, it wasn’t nearly enough time to find her dream home.
In a fortnight, she departs for a three-month tournament run that includes stops in Singapore and Thailand, before a six-week stretch down the west coast of the US.
She hopes to get back to Perth in May, but she knows 2022 could be another nomadic experience.
Part of her coping mechanism has been finding new ways to escape and unwind.
A chance moment in 2019 led Green to discover a passion that helped calm her mind, and she now takes jigsaw puzzles everywhere she travels.
“I have a really good friend who does digital art and she has made me a few puzzles dedicated to a few of my wins,” she says.
“I’ve definitely kept those ones, but not any others.”
Maybe the next personalised puzzle she’ll get given will be her Prosecco shoey.