Hall of Famers Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam as well as Australia Open tennis champion Ash Barty were among the sporting elite who reached out to history-maker Hannah Green after she became the first woman to win a mixed 72-hole event on Sunday.
Green was still cradling her trophy on Monday as she revealed how nervous she was heading down the 18th hole despite holding a four-shot lead over the field, which included Australian PGA champ Jed Morgan, in the TPS Murray River event.
The 25-year-old, who is already a major champion, said she was keen to get back on social media to fully take in the scope of her victory that made headlines around the golfing globe.
“I didn’t realise it was a global thing I was trying to achieve, I just thought it was for the Players Series. To hear that after I’d won was probably a good thing,” Green, who is taking the week off to soak in her win, said on Monday.
“Karrie (Webb) sent me a few messages hoping I’ve celebrated and enjoyed what I did. Annika Sorenstam commented on my (Instagram) post. To have people like that who have such successful careers congratulating me is really cool.”
Barty, who won a golf club championship last year, was also quick to comment on an Instagram post from Green that drew congratulations from her peers, including Irish star Leona Maguire and fellow major champion Georgia Hall, to confirm the magnitude of her win.
The best previous finish by a woman in a Webex Players Series mixed event had been Su Oh’s tie for third at TPS Victoria last year.
Green not only won the tournament but won easily and admitted to being a tad shaky as the momentous victory drew near knowing she had to hold off “the boys” for the firstxjmtzyw time having started the day tied in the lead.
“It was a bit different being tied with three other guys. I had to make sure I was sticking to my own game … not worrying what the boys were doing,” she said.
“It was really nice to be able to walk down the last with a four-shot lead. I was still really nervous because I guess I was creating history.
“I feel like winning these events is helping with my confidence. Winning is something you want to practise, doesn’t matter what level it is at. I want to be contending in majors this year and try and get my name on another trophy.”
But it could be the last time Green takes part in a “shoey” after her win, having also drank from her shoe after victory in the Vic Open the week before.
“Maybe if I win another major I’ll do it,” she said.
“I’m on cloud nine at the moment, The Vic Open last week helped me close it out yesterday. Hopefully, this is a good sign for the rest of the year.”
Green, ranked 30 in the world, will next head to Singapore before returning to the US to rejoin the LPGA Tour after her summer at home.
