Heartbreak for Hannah as the Ko medal show rolls on – Golf Australia Magazine – The Women’s Game

Green ended her final round on Saturday in the bronze medal position, painfully missing a tough birdie putt on the 18th at Le Golf National.

She then had to wait for the rest of the field to finish, with the West Australian pushed down to a share of fourth by China’s Lin Xiyu, who nailed her own birdie on the final hole to move one stroke ahead.

Green also narrowly missed the medals in her Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago, finishing fifth, continuing Australia’s wait for a golf medal with Jason Day the leading male in Paris in ninth.

Setting up her round with four birdies on the front nine before a double-bogey at the par-4 10th, the 27-year-old said her initial reaction to coming fourth was anger.

“Pissed off, I guess is the first word that comes to mind,” Green said. 

“But giving myself five minutes to think about it coming fourth after such a bad start to the Games on Wednesday, I have to be pretty proud of myself.

“I’m a bit annoyed that the putt on 17 didn’t go in and then obviously having to lay up on 18 and try and make birdie the harder way when people are knocking it on in two is annoying.

“All in all, to be in contention at a Games, I’m super happy.”

Olympic medallists (from left): Esther Henseleit, Lydia Ko and Lin Xiyu. PHOTO: Getty Images.

The victory completes the Olympic medal collection for 27-year-old Ko, who won silver in Rio and bronze in Tokyo.

Heading into Paris, Ko, who entered the LPGA’s Hall of Fame on the back of the win, said that winning a gold would be a fairytale.

“Going into this week, everyone was saying, ‘Oh, what if you finish and collect all the gold on top of the silver and bronze you have’,” an emotional Ko said. 

“Of course I want to do that, complete it too, but it’s much easier said than done.

“To be holding and wearing this gold medal, it’s pretty crazy right now.”

The former world No.1 shared a two-shot lead with Morgane Metraux heading into the final round and while the Swiss bombed, the Kiwi ace kept her cool.

She found the water on the 13th, resulting in a double bogey, but regrouped and saluted in style with a birdie on the last,

She signed for a final round one-under 71 to finish two strokes clear at 10-under.

The golden moment for New Zealand’s Lydia Ko. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Germany’s Esther Henseleit surged up the leaderboard from 11th on the back of a six-under 66 to take silver, while bronze medallist Lin was a further shot back.

Green, the 2019 Women’s PGA winner, shared fourth spot at six-under with Filipina golfer Bianca Pagdanganan, Korea’s Amy Yang and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita.

World No.6 Green was left to rue a costly opening round, a five-over-par 77 which left her tied for 46th in the 60-strong field.

But the only player, along with world No.1 Nelly Korda, to win multiple LPGA titles this year, Green dug deep to turn her Olympic campaign around.

Korda had a final round 75 to drop down to a tie for 22nd alongside Australia’s other representative Minjee Lee, who carded a successive one-under 71.