Home is where the Hall is

Home favourite Georgia Hall is relishing the chance to perform in front of her nearest and dearest at next week’s AIG Women’s Open.

A prominent member of the LPGA and Ladies European Tours, the Bournemouth native doesn’t get the chance to play in the UK too often.

So the opportunity to tee it up at Walton Heath in Surrey, just a car journey away from where she grew up, will be the highlight of her season.

She said: “It’s my favourite event of the year because it’s where I get the most support.

“A lot of my friends and family can never normally watch me because I play in the US and Asia so much. So to have this event so close to home, I’m sure I will get lots of support.

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“It’s just the best feeling, having those people around me. It’s going to be a really enjoyable week for me.”

The 27-year-old’s champagne moment came at Royal Lytham & St Annes five years ago.

With her dad Wayne caddying, Hall edged out Pornanong Phatlum by two strokes to become the first British winner of the Championship since Catriona Matthew triumphed in 2009.

Only five players have won the AIG Women’s Open more than once, and Hall believes her form on the greens will be a crucial factor in her joining this elite group.

She said: “I would love to win it again, for sure. Hopefully I’ve got plenty of years left for that. It’s on my radar.

“Winning it at Royal Lytham was obviously the highlight of my career.

“I was very close a couple of years ago at Carnoustie when I came second, and I’ve come third as well, so I feel like I’ve got the mental ability to win again.

“I think what made me win was putting. I holed a lot of putts and I think that’s key to winning any tournament. If you don’t putt well you’re never going to win, no matter how well you strike the ball.

“So if I can putt well, find the right pace, limit the three-putts, then I think I’ll have a good chance.”

This is the first year Walton Heath will stage the prestigious Championship.

Located just a few miles from central London, it’s a venue that Hall knows better than most – though her superstitions dictate that she will not play a practice round there – and she believes it will prove a fitting test for the final major of the season.

Hall said: “I’ve played Walton Heath a few times and it’s not a links golf course that we’re used to playing so it will be interesting to see what sort of scores there are. I’m sure it will play quite hard.

“I used to spend a lot of time there so I know the area really well. It’s a great venue. Visually it’s a very pretty golf course.

“I’m really excited to get there on Monday. I’ll be really fresh and mentally ready for the week.”