3 minute read
Lucas Herbert and Hannah Green are one strong round each away of completing the first men's and women's Australian Open golfing title in almost two decades.
Hannah Green and Lucas Herbert plan to feed off the patriotic home-crowd support as the two fan favourites bid to pull off a rare Australian golfing double on Sunday.
Green and Herbert enter the Australian Open final round in Melbourne with a golden opportunity to become the first locals to win both the women's and men's events in almost two decades.
Herbert is the equal third-round leader of the men's championship with unheralded American Ryggs Johnston, while Green is second in the women's after a dramatic Saturday "moving day", trailing only former world No.1 Jiyai Shin by two shots.
Chasing a fourth victory of an already-glorious year, Green hopes to ride the wave of Australian support, especially if she's still in the mix down the stretch at Kingston Heath on Sunday.
"Yeah, it makes a big difference, actually," said the world No.6.
"It's nice to have people cheer up your name, and obviously clap a little bit louder for me when I make a putt and things like that.
"And obviously it's nice to see all the kids just coming out to watch us.
"So, yeah, it's nice having a home game."
Green and Herbert may or may not know the extent of history at stake.
In addition to trying to become the first Australian woman since the great Karrie Webb in 2014 to etch their name on the Patricia Bridges Bowl, no two home hopes have won the Open in 17 years.
Webb and Craig Parry completed the double in 2007 before international superstars started dominating the event.
Herbert, though, certainly understands the stakes on offer.
Cameron Smith's LIV Golf teammate will tee off in the final group in the equal lead just after midday (AEDT) with American underdog Johnston, believing the world No.954 has nothing to lose.
"It looks so easy for Ryggs, who doesn't probably care about the Australian Open as much as I do - with no disrespect to him," Herbert said.
"It just means so much being my home national Open."
