Georgia Hall out to maintain English rule as she begins LPGA bid

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
In the swing of it: Georgia Hall
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The last time English players celebrated back-to-back wins on the LPGA Tour, Tony Blair was still seven months away from making his way into No10 Downing Street.

On Sunday, Mel Reid followed Georgia Hall in becoming an English winner on American soil at the Shoprite LPGA Classic, two victories that could hardly be better timed heading into the latest major of the season, today’s Women’s PGA Championship.

Aptly, it also goes back to 1996 that the last Englishwoman, Laura Davies, celebrated victory at that particular event.

And ahead of teeing off this afternoon, Hall said: “It feels like 1996 is quite a while ago now and it’s great that there are five or six or us now.

“It’s incredible for English golf and for the women’s game that Mel and I won back to back. It seems to have happened that Mel and I are playing really well right now, and you always like to see other UK women win.”

Unlike Reid, Hall already has a Major to her name after winning the Open back in 2018 when her father Wayne famously caddied for her.

Georgia Hall poses with the trophy after winning the Cambia Portland Classic Photo: Getty Images
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There had been hopes that dad could carry the bag again at this year’s Open and also the Scottish Open but Covid restrictions made that complicated. But caddying duties still remain close to home with boyfriend Harry having done the honours for her Portland win and again in action this week.

But Hall dismisses the suggestion there might be any fractiousness between boyfriend and girlfriend when the pressure mounts this week.

“We’re really used to it, we’ve done it for three years and we did it at LPGA Tour School, which was the most nervous time,” she said. “We never argue. He’s more chilled than me – I can get a bit more stressed so we balance each other out well and have a laugh, plus I’ve become more relaxed on the course with him. It feels more and more like a practice round.

“Plus, it’s nice to have someone to travel with. It can get quite lonely out there and we’ve been nine or 10 weeks now in a row away and that can get daunting.”

And dad is never far away. After each round – whatever the time in the UK – he is on hand to offer a supportive text while both parents stayed up until the early hours to cheer on the Portland victory from home and then duly FaceTime.

Hall hopes again there is reason to ring home and celebrate come Sunday and went into her opening round knowing how to win one of golf’s big five.

“Before I won the Open, I thought it might be harder to win at home with the expectation, more supporters, people knowing who you are,” said Hall, speaking on behalf of Schoen Clinic London. “But I feel comfortable playing at home and I think it depends on the person, and I haven’t won a Major in the US so I don’t know. A Major’s hard to win wherever in the world.

“The Open is definitely top of my list. The first tournament you win is very special, mine just happened to be a Major and at home. And it brings expectations. I really enjoy that, and it’s nice to know I’ve done that and I’m only 24. This is only my third year on the LPGA and I feel like there’s a lot more to come.”

Georgia Hall has partnered with Schoen Clinic London, a world-renowned innovator in the treatment and prevention of sports-related injuries – www.schoen-clinic.co.uk

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