Georgia Hall has high hopes ahead of ‘strange’ US Women’s Open

The 75th US Women’s Open will make history on two fronts as golf’s strangest season comes to an end in Texas.
Originally scheduled for June, the tournament is being played in December for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic, with another first seeing two courses being used to combat a lack of daylight for the 156-strong field.
Players will complete 18 holes on the Jackrabbit and Cypress Creek courses at the Champions Club in Houston over the first two days, with the remaining 36 holes taking place at Cypress Creek following the halfway cut.
It takes a major collaborative effort to prepare two courses for championship golf on short notice!
Chris Ortmeier, Director of Agronomy at Champions, and Darin Bevard, USGA Director of Championship Agronomy, joined @the_fried_egg to discuss that ahead of the 75th #USWomensOpen.
— USGA (@USGA) December 8, 2020
“My season normally finishes by now, so it was strange going to the airport with the (Christmas) decorations everywhere,” admitted former Women’s British Open champion Georgia Hall.
“But it’s perfect weather, much better than England, so I’m very happy to be here.”
Hall’s best finish of tied 34th in four starts in the event came in 2018, the same year she won her maiden major title at Royal Lytham, but hopes are high for English success after the 24-year-old and compatriot Mel Reid both claimed victories on the LPGA since lockdown ended.
“Tee to green I think the course suits me,” Hall said. “It’s pretty long, which I like. I just need to make sure to get the pace right around the greens. I think the greens will be tricky for everyone.

“I think the main course is quite a bit longer and tougher. All in all, the greens are very, very quick and slopey, so I think it will be pretty tough out there.”
Reid has made the cut just once in four starts in the US Women’s Open, but was third in the Women’s PGA Championship last year and enjoyed a breakthrough win on the LPGA in October.
“I didn’t play great last week. Didn’t like that golf course and that golf course didn’t like me,” the 33-year-old from Derby said of her tie for 65th in the Volunteers of America Classic. “But I didn’t feel like I hit it bad at all.
“I’ve played tournaments where there’s been two courses, but definitely not in a major. That’s why I just think it’s going to be a new test for the girls. I think to prepare for it is going to be a lot harder.

“It’s obviously a huge advantage to girls that live in Texas that have come out and been around here a little bit more than most of us. But it’s a different test. It’s a different test for everybody, so we’ll see how it goes.
“Major championship, it’s just a tough week. You’ve just got to be smart, try and take doubles out of play, and especially around here with the big greens. There’s going to be three-putts left, right and centre.
“Honestly, I think the girl that three-putts least is probably going to win.”
Defending champion Jeongeun Lee6 leads a strong South Korean contingent, with Denmark’s Emily Pedersen heading the challengers from continental Europe after winning the last three events of the Ladies European Tour season to claim the money list title.
Latest
-
Courses
Ranking all 6 Australian states by the quality of their golf courses
How do Australia’s states stack up when it comes to their golf.
-
Equipment
Titleist launch incredible limited edition Mystic Blue Scotty Cameron HXXIII Newport Putter
The Mystic Blue Scotty Cameron HXXIII Newport Putter is breathtaking.
-
Equipment
The clubs Scottie Scheffler used to win the Hero World Challenge – including a new custom putter
Scottie Scheffler had a new putter in hand for his Hero World Challenge win.
-
Equipment
5 of the very best drivers to give you more distance off the tee
Looking for distance in a driver? We have you covered.
-
Equipment
What golf clubs did Min Woo Lee have in his bag for the Australian Open?
What’s in the bag for the Chef?
-
Features
Is it poor form to play golf on Christmas Day?
There is nothing wrong with a yuletide round.
-
Courses
Wild Horse Golf Club emphatically answers the question ‘is affordable golf in Nebraska any good’
Wild Horse Golf Club has made fine use of Nebraska’s prairies to create a unique and surprisingly affordable experience.
-
Equipment
What’s in the bag for rising PGA Tour star Max Homa?
What does top-10 star Max Homa have in his bag?
-
Courses
What makes Kapalua’s Plantation Course unique among PGA Tour layouts?
A visit to Kapalua’s Plantation Course is always memorable.
-
Equipment
Whatever happened to Bubba Watson’s hovercart?
What happened to Bubba Watson’s 50 mph golf hovercraft?