I kept trophy under my bed … but I’m not ready to give it up
GEORGIA HALL ON HER YEAR AS OPEN CHAMPION
Asoft rain was falling as Georgia Hall made her way to the first tee at Woburn for an early practice round ahead of her defence this week of the women’s British open. As if the elements were not unwelcome enough, she had this golf writer for company.
It was a squeeze to fit the round in, given the following day she was moving into a swish new flat in sunningdale. It has been that sort of whirlwind year for the 23-yearold, one of upheaval and learning that is invariably par for the course for someone who wins such an important title when so young.
she proves good company, telling some nice stories about her year in office, including one that happily illustrates that the spoils of her major success have not gone to the head of the plasterer’s daughter from Bournemouth.
Picture Georgia in seattle, a short time after her win at Royal Lytham. she is standing outside tiffany’s, debating whether to treat herself to a beautiful ring from the more modest price range of the famous jewellery store.
she went back and forth, trying it on three times. that evening, she had dinner with fellow pro Charley Hull. ‘I was telling her my dilemma and she asked me how much it cost,’ recalled Hall.
‘When I told Charley, she just looked at me and said, “flippin’ heck, Georgia, you’ve just won the British open, of course you should treat yourself”. I suppose it was a bit silly. It was a lot of money for me but not a lot in the grand scheme of things. I just needed a little push, and you can rely on Charley for that.’
Along the same demure lines is the fact Hall has not spent evenings staring at the trophy on the mantelpiece. Indeed, she speaks somewhat sheepishly when I ask if the trophy has had special pride of place.
‘Not exactly,’ she responds. ‘I kept it under the bed for three months, because I was travelling so much and I didn’t want it on show. that’s not good, is it? I did let my mum and dad look after it as well, if that helps.’
Ask Hall how life has changed and she recalls walking on the beach while on holiday in Barbados.
‘this bloke is walking past me in the other direction, and he says, “Hello, Georgia, well done on the British open win.” I’m thinking, “How on earth can he recognize me in my beach outfit?”
‘then there was the time I was walking through the airport, with my suitcases, and someone says, “that’s a very normal way for you to enter the country.” I mean, how am I supposed to enter the country? It’s all very strange at times.’
on the course, Hall’s results have been modest, including a tied 37th place in the Evian Championship on sunday. Indeed, she has mustered just one top 10 so far, a reflection partly of playing too much in America early on.
‘I got my schedule wrong at the start of the season,’ she said. ‘You look at all the strong tournaments, you’re a major champion and you want to play, but I took on too many. It can be hard as well when you like living in Britain. I’m grateful for the opportunities that America offers, but I’m a home bird at heart.’
that becomes obvious when the conversation turns to her schedule, featuring not just her title defence but the solheim Cup in september. ‘We don’t get a chance to play much in Britain, so to have two such enormous occasions in a relatively short space of time is going to be brilliant,’ she said. ‘I love the open. You have a different feeling each time you play in one and obviously this is going to be a special occasion for me. ‘I’m going into it with the focus that this is my trophy and I’m not going to let anyone take it away from me. If I’m in contention, I’ll have that confidence of knowing that in the biggest major for me I can hit the right shot at the right time.’ to the delight of a large crowd at Lytham last year, she did that all right, culminating in a memorable scene on the 18th green. Her father, and caddie that week, Wayne — the man who named her Georgia in honour of sir Nick faldo’s victory over Greg Norman at the 1996 Masters on the weekend she was born — wrapped her in a joyous, embrace. Every other week, Hall’s caddie is her boyfriend Harry, a decent golfer himself at Hindhead in surrey. so who will be carrying the bag at Woburn?
‘oh, it will be my dad,’ said Hall. ‘that would be a really bad thing if I didn’t ask him.’
Besides, Harry will have plenty to occupy his time. ‘He’s organised a few coachloads from Hindhead,’ said Hall. ‘from what I can understand, the entire ladies’ section is coming up to watch, so he’s going to have a lot of chatting to do.’
thankfully, the rain eases off as we make our way around the stately Marquess course.
obviously, Hall is a good golfer, but you do not realise just how good until you are standing up close. she is a top-class ball striker, if perhaps one better suited to the wily questions posed by links rather than inland target golf.
When I make the point, she demonstrates she is not frightened of expressing an opinion.
‘I’ve nothing against Woburn — I think we can both see it’s a beautiful course to play,’ she began. ‘But I’m a links girl at heart and I think the open should be played only on links courses. to me, it’s what the open is about. You wouldn’t see the men play their open on an inland course, would you?’
the nice thing for Hall is that she will not be standing in a lonely spotlight this week with Hull, the Woburn member who will not mind that the open is being staged inland, and Bronte Law, who won in America earlier this year.
‘We’re all a similar age and we’ve all know each other for years,’ said Hall. ‘Bronte stayed at university longer so that’s why she’s only coming through now. they’re both fantastic players and I know me winning the open will spur them on to win majors of their own.’
Hall taps in on 18 to finish her practice round a couple under par. Now, for the real thing. the trophy has come out from under the bed and is up for grabs. ‘I’m planning on jealously guarding it,’ she says.