Australian golfer Hannah Green has extended her remarkable 2026 season with a dramatic victory at the JM Eagle LA Championship, securing her fourth title of the year just days before the season's first women's major.
Green clinched the win on the first playoff hole with a curling 12-foot birdie putt, defeating South Korean contenders Kim Sei-young and Im Jin-hee. All three players finished the regulation rounds tied at 17 under par.
"I didn't think I was still in the tournament," Green admitted after her victory. "I had that putt, similar line in regulation, so I felt somewhat comfortable."
The victory was particularly impressive given Green's mid-round deficit. She found herself six shots behind after Kim chipped in for eagle on the 11th hole, but responded with five birdies in the next six holes to force the playoff.
This marks Green's third LA Championship victory in four years, though this year's tournament was played at El Caballero rather than its traditional Wilshire venue due to course renovations.
During Saturday's round, tournament officials announced a significant prize money increase to $4.75 million (£3.5 million), making it the richest non-major event on the LPGA Tour outside of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Green's share of the increased purse amounted to $712,500.
Green's 2026 campaign has been nothing short of spectacular. In March, she became the first Australian since 2014 to win the Women's Australian Open, and has also claimed victories at the LPGA's Women's World Championship and the Australian WPGA Championship.
The timing of this latest triumph couldn't be better, with the Chevron Championship—the first women's major of the year—set to begin Thursday in Houston, Texas. Green, whose only major victory came at the 2019 Women's PGA Championship, enters the tournament as one of the hottest players on tour.
Kim and Im both had opportunities to win in regulation but couldn't convert. Kim missed a 35-foot birdie attempt, while Im—who was penalized a stroke for slow play during Saturday's third round—struggled after a wayward tee shot.
Green's consistent excellence throughout the early season has established her as a formidable contender heading into the major championship season, with her LA Championship victory serving as the latest demonstration of her current form.