Hannah Green’s Big Year: An Australian Open Drought Broken and a Return to the World’s Elite

If there was an Australian athlete of the first half of 2026 who did not receive the attention she deserved, it may well have been Hannah Green. The West Australian golfer won three significant titles in barely two months, including a home national open that had eluded Australians for more than a decade.

Singapore, Adelaide, Los Angeles

Green’s run began in Singapore, where she won the HSBC Women’s World Championship by one stroke at Sentosa Golf Club, her second win in the event after 2024, according to the BBC.

A fortnight later, she won the Women’s Australian Open at Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide by one shot, finishing at 11 under par. She became the first Australian to win the title since Karrie Webb in 2014, according to the ABC. Agathe Laisné of France and Australian Cassie Porter, who shot a course-record 62 in the final round, shared second.

“I like to make it really nerve-racking for myself and everyone watching,” Green said. “Just really happy to have my name on the trophy amongst all the amazing other winners.”

In April she added the JM Eagle LA Championship, coming from six shots behind in the final round and winning a three-way playoff against Sei Young Kim and Jin Hee Im. “I honestly didn’t think I was in the tournament still,” she said afterwards, according to the Associated Press.

A family affair

Part of the story was personal. With her regular caddie unable to leave the United States while applying for a green card, her husband, professional golfer Jarryd Felton, carried her bag in Singapore, the BBC reported. “It was absolutely a team effort over the last two weeks, and it’s very special to share my seventh win, which is also my favourite number, with him,” she said.

Where she stands

Green, a major champion since her 2019 Women’s PGA Championship win, rose to fifth in the women’s world rankings after the LA win, according to Australian Associated Press. As of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings published on 26 October, she was ranked 10th.

Her year also highlighted the depth of Australian women’s golf. Minjee Lee, who finished tied third in Singapore, and Grace Kim are established on the international stage, and Porter’s final round in Adelaide signalled another emerging talent.

Why it matters

Green’s success comes at a time of strong growth in women’s participation. Golf Australia’s 2024–25 participation report shows women make up almost 88% of participants in Get Into Golf, its program for adult beginners, which grew 10.1% year on year.

Elite role models matter in that equation. A home national open won by an Australian, broadcast to a local audience, does more to inspire new players than any marketing campaign.

For sponsors, Green’s profile is an under-used asset. She has won consistently at the highest level, she represents a fast-growing segment of the game, and she has a story that resonates.

With the LPGA season drawing to a close, the challenge for Green is to convert her strong form into another major title. For Australian golf, the challenge is to make sure her achievements get the attention they warrant.