Hannah Green wins LA Championship after three-way playoff

Canberra: Australia’s Hannah Green claimed the LA Championship on Sunday after making birdie on the opening hole of a three-player playoff, securing her third title in the event and her eighth LPGA Tour victory.

Green holed a lengthy birdie putt on the first sudden-death hole to finish ahead of South Korea’s Kim Sei-young and Im Jin-hee. She forced her way into the playoff with a four-under-par 68, a round that featured five birdies across the back nine.

The win came in the final tournament before the first women’s major of the season, next week’s Chevron Championship in Houston. It was Green’s fourth victory worldwide this year.

Green said she had executed the approach she wanted after the previous day.

I felt like I was doing what I said I wanted to do yesterday, hit more greens,

she said. Starting the day two shots behind Kim, Green also acknowledged that after recording one birdie and two bogeys on the front nine,

I honestly didn't think I was in the tournament still.

Reflecting on the playoff, Green said,

I'm just fortunate that I at least got into the playoff,

after the trio finished tied on 17-under 217. She added,

I had that putt, very similar line, in regulation. It still was a tough putt so really glad it went in the hole.

Strong run of form continues

Green has been in impressive form this season. She has also won the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore, the Women’s Australian Open and the Australian WPGA this year.

Although this was her third LA Championship title, the course was different from the one used in her previous two victories. Green won the tournament in 2023 and 2024 at Wilshire Country Club, but this year’s competition was staged at El Caballero for the second consecutive season because of renovation work at Wilshire.

Kim and Im fall short in playoff

Kim, a 13-time LPGA winner, began the final round with a two-shot advantage after a turbulent third round in which an eight-shot lead disappeared following four straight bogeys. She moved one shot ahead with two holes remaining, helped by a chip-in eagle on the par-five 11th, but dropped a shot at the par-three 17th and signed for a two-under 70.

After the round, Kim said,

Just a little disappointed because I had a good chance for the win.

Im, meanwhile, appeared to be slipping out of contention after a double bogey on the 10th. However, she responded with a five-under 67 and joined the leaders by making eagle at the par-five 16th.

The three players returned to the 18th for the playoff. Im missed the green with her second shot, while Kim was unable to convert her birdie chance, leaving the opening for Green to seal the title with her putt.