Green tail triumph for Hazeltine

Hannah Green sees her tee ball fly on the 14th today. Image: Getty

Hannah Green may be a day away from a monumental triumph, with the goal of becoming the first major Australian winner since Jason PGA's 2015 Day win.

For the third consecutive day, the 22-year-old Perth star was at the top of the women's third major standings of the season, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine in Minneapolis today.

It is an extraordinary achievement so far by a player who – despite three wins on the secondary Symetra Tour in 2017 – has never won a main tournament, let alone a major.

She is in 114th place in the world and her best-ever finish in an LPGA event is third in the ISPS Handa Women & # 39; s Australian Open in 2018.

But the delightful Green, a universally popular soul who graduated from the elite amateur programs of Western Australia and Mt Lawley Golf Club, seemed very much in place.

"It's clear that it's my first time in this position, so I feel like I'll be a little nervous tomorrow," Green said after her lap. "But I think that when I have more time to wait between shots, when I started to feel the nerves and I thought: okay, my heart beats. I think I just have to slow things down and take my time and before must make sure that I am not in a hurry with recordings. & # 39; & # 39;

Playing on a long track that has played hard for almost everyone in the field, Green plotted her way around in two under par 70 today after 68 and 69 on the first two days.

Witnessing the way in which she has crackled – and in particular picked – is the fact that she has only made three bogeys throughout the week

While in her self-deprecating green way she acknowledges that she was lucky (with hole-outs of the green at both the opening two days), she has underestimated the quality of her game.

Green is at nine-under-general level, a shot for Thailand & # 39; s Ariya Jutanugarn.

American Lizette Salas and Nelly Korda in five-under are most likely the only other players that have a chance to win tomorrow, although Sung Hyun Park and Sei Young will depict Kim in four-under. But really, it is thanks to Groen and her nerves.

The Rookie Squadron of Golf Australia duel all day with Jutanugarn, a player who has won two majors, until the No. 1 in the world climbed twice and was the player of the tour of the year.

Every time Jutanugarn was challenged, Green responded.

Starting from three shots ahead, the Australian on the fourth, fifth and seventh hole – the one on the fifth of the long distance. A bad chip at the par-four 13th hole led to a bogey, but Jutanugarn also dropped a shot at the same hole. Then on March 15, when Jutanugarn bombed her second shot at the green to set up a birdie, Green set herself up and then crawled close and rolled calmly into her own little bird to hold the lead twice.

On the 16th, Jutanugarn flashed her tee in danger and dropped a shot; Green came close again and missed a bird, but took a shot at her main rival. The last act was for Jutanugarn to bird on the 17th and then for Green to put a photo with three putts (her first all week) on the 18th, so that it ended the difference with just one shot.

Only two Australian women – Karrie Webb and Jan Stephenson – have won majors. Webb won the last of her seven in 2006, but was a mentor to Green & # 39; s, the latter was part of the Karrie Webb scholarship team via Golf Australia. They stay in the same house, along with a couple of antipodic players and supporters.

It could be a party if Green could go from one to the other and Webb already advised her to embrace embracing tomorrow.

"I think I just have to keep my head cool and just have fun and embrace it," said Green. "When it comes to me, I want to make sure that I remember and have fun. I don't want to be miserable and sick during the round!"

JASON DAY is the leading Australian in the American PGA Tour Travelers Championship through three rounds. After a 68 today, Day is nine-under, seven shots from the lead in a draw for the fourth.

KPMG WOMEN PGA

-9 Hannah Green (AUS)

-8 Ariya Jutanugarn (Thai)

-5 Nelly Korda, Lyzette Salas (USA)

-4 Sei Young Kim, Sung Hyun Park (Sth Korea)

NOTE:

Catch the final round of the KPMG Women & # 39; s PGA Championship live and on request at Kayo. Register or subscribe to a 14-day free trial period using this link: https://bit.ly/2wu1edA blonde19459005]