2022 Women’s Open: Georgia Hall bullish about chances after McIlroy’s pep talk

Georgia Hall has been getting putting advice from Rory McIlroy.

There’s not a lot that could top playing the Old Course alongside Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Lee Trevino. But Georgia Hall is ready to give it a go at the AIG Women’s Open this week and repeat her heroics from four years ago 

Georgia Hall always dreamed of one day playing alongside her hero, Tiger Woods. The 2018 Women’s Open champion got the chance to live it ahead of the 150th Open when she was invited to play in the R&A’s Celebration of Champions alongside the 15-time major champion, as well as Rory McIlroy and Lee Trevino.

“I’m definitely going to get that picture framed sooner rather than later,” says Hall, referring to the group picture taken on the Swilcan Bridge alongside Jack Nicklaus. “[It’s] definitely one of the best moments of my career.”

Speaking ahead of the Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald last week, Hall also revealed that she got the chance to pick the brains of Rory McIlroy during the four-hole exhibition, which has already led to a change in her putting.

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“I started using a line on the golf ball last week [at the Evian Championship] for the first time in a couple of years, because we briefly spoke about that, and I putted probably the best I have this year. So I’m going to continue to do that.”

Hall finished in a tie for eighth at the Evian Championship, her third top 10 in her last six Major starts, and was in contention at the Women’s Scottish Open entering the weekend before falling back into a tie for 18th on 10-under-par. Still, she will make the short journey to Muirfield with her reputation enhanced as a links specialist having also finished runner-up behind Anna Nordqvist at Carnoustie last year.

She already knows what it takes to win the Women’s Open and with 36,000 fans expected to be in attendance this year, Hall is excited by the prospect of playing at Muirfield for the first time.

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“I’ve never played it, but I’ve heard lots of great things about the course,” says the 26-year-old. “One of my goals is to compete more in the majors and I always feel like I’ve got a good chance at the British Open.

“I don’t need to travel too far and obviously it’s in Scotland which I love. It’s still my favourite event of the year. I tend to position fairly strongly there most of the time, so I’m feeling confident going into it.”

Hall will be one of 19 Brits competing for the $7.3 million prize pot, which is more than double what it was in 2018. Live coverage of all four rounds at Muirfield will be shown on Sky Sports Golf with highlights after each day’s play airing on the BBC and BBC iPlayer. 

You can read our full interview with Bronte Law, who beat Georgia Hall to the Aramco Team Series – London title at Centurion Club, in the next issue of Today’s Golfer.

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