Portland is as close to Australia as 2019 Cambia Portland Classic winner Hannah Green says she can find without getting on a long-haul flight Down Under. The Perth native loves poking around the Portland food scene, finding Australian-style brekkie spots to help fill that urge to go home, something she can’t easily do right now due to the pandemic.

Green normally heads back to Australia on a regular basis, sacrificing a few playing opportunities for the chance to decompress at home. But with heightened immigration restrictions, Green and her fellow Aussie Su Oh have been relying on their friends around the world as they navigate the season.

“We actually spent a week in the U.K. with Georgia Hall and Harry, her boyfriend, so they looked after us for a week, but then we returned to Orlando, Florida (where Golf Australia has a house). It's kind of our home away from home,” said Green. “Even then we don't have a membership at any golf club, so just been practicing and playing with other LPGA players, so very grateful to all those girls that have took us out and played. It's obviously not the same. It is nice. We have a bed to sleep in and a lot of things that we've accumulated since being out here.”

While she can’t get the refresher she needs by physically making it back home, Green did get a huge pick-me-up last week thanks to fellow Perth resident Daniel Ricciardo, who captured his first Formula 1 victory since 2018 on Sunday. “It was great for him to get the win. Obviously a few years since he had one, so hopefully I can have another Perth person win this week,” she said. “A few of the members at my home club know him and his family, so I'm sure they would've celebrated for him.”

And if Green wins at Oregon Golf Club, she promises to follow in Ricciardo’s footsteps with a “shoey,” his signature celebration of chugging champagne from his racing shoe. “Su and I said whoever wins next has to do a shoey, and then I'll do it with her and vice versa,” Green said with a big laugh. “So yes, we'll do it. Have never done it before and I was quite surprised that Lando (Norris, Ricciardo’s teammate) even did it, so I'll do one. I'll take one for the team.”

Hannah Green Finding Ways to Keep Australia On Her Mind

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