Golf may be the most solitary of sports but Georgia Hall always feels she is part of a team. It is not because the Englishwoman has an entourage of coaches, physiotherapists and publicists following her on Tour, as is often the case with her male counterparts. It comes down to one man – her boyfriend Harry Tyrrell, who also happens to be her caddie. 

Hall, 24, might acknowledge that Harry is key to her success but there is no doubt who will be in charge on the course at the second major of the women's season, the ANA Inspiration, which begins on Thursday - to the extent that Hall even insists on reading the greens for herself. 

“Harry does all the yardages with me, he double checks that we have the right number [of clubs], but in terms of the green reading, I have always done that myself - no one has ever helped me with that,” she says.  

The Bournemouth golfer became a household name on these shores after winning the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Golf Club two years ago. Part of what endeared her to fans was how she had her father, Wayne, on the bag but when playing on the LPGA Tour, where she has been a fixture since 2018, it is always Harry who she travels with. 

Hall, now ranked at 53 in the world, explains that working together as a couple, rather than causing tension, actually soothes her nerves and gives her greater clarity of thought. This, she believes comes down to their contrasting personalities.

“Sometimes, I think he is a bit too laid-back but I think I can be a bit too much the other way, I think I need to relax more," she admits. "Harry definitely helps me as I need someone more relaxed.

“We are still boyfriend and girlfriend on the course but we just stay focused on the golf. I think it is lovely that I have someone I know so well and wants the best for me. He truly wants me to play well and I know he is someone I can speak to as I do get a bit stressed at times. I think that is important.”

Now that Hall is back playing the US, it is more important than ever to have that support, given how isolating life can be on tour. “I think it is a team effort - people forget sometimes how much we travel and how much time we spend out on the course. I think it can get very lonely if you are on your own.

“That is another reason why it is great to have Harry with me because if I have to travel 18 hours on the plane, he can help me. But it is more than that, it is about having company in the evenings. That is very important so I don’t feel so alone.”

The LPGA can lay a strong claim - along with the WTA tennis circuit - to being the most sophisticated set-up in professional women’s sport when it comes to finances, marketing and the profile of its athletes - especially in the US and Asia. The Tour’s commissioner Mike Whan often describes the LPGA players as being akin to entrepreneurs, pointing out that if a player misses the cut, she will not get paid any prize money. With sponsorship deals still relatively low - even for a star like Hall - financial management is key.

Hall has banked almost £1million in prize money since leaving the relatively low-paid European Tour for America, but she believes her “normal” upbringing - her father was a plasterer while her mother, Samantha, worked as a hairdresser - has given her perspective on her earning potential. 

After winning the Open in 2018, which was her first LPGA title, she recounted the sacrifices her parents made when she was younger, including golf-mad Wayne selling his clubs to fund one trip to a far-flung tournament.

“I think I am sensible and that is because I came from a very normal family and upbringing. I am lucky because of that. If I win a big tournament or do well I have no desire to spend lots of money. When I do want to stop playing, I don’t want to be worrying about money. I think a lot of people my age - or even me a couple of years ago - would have spent a lot of the prize money.” 

The Solheim Cup winner has no interest in splashing her hard earned cash on designer hand-bags like some of her contemporaries, although she did treat herself to a ring to commemorate her Open win.

“With the LPGA, you are playing for a lot more money but it also costs a lot more to get out there. If you are not playing well and missing a lot of cuts, it is extremely expensive,” she explains.

“You have to pay for a visa to get over there, which is a lot of money. Flights are even more expensive nowadays, if there is a week where there isn’t a tournament, you still have to pay for accommodation.

“It is expensive but if you do play well, you do earn a lot more money. It is a big change from the LET - the pins are a lot harder and the courses are a lot longer than the LET. It does take a player one or two years to figure out their schedule as well because of jet lag.”

If you are watching the action from the Californian desert, don’t be surprised if you see lots of chatting between Hall and Tyrrell – it is part of the master plan. “It is important to take your mind off golf. Five hours is a long time and I think it is important to switch off. I think it is important to be not so focused every minute." 

Just do not expect her to be taking any advice on the greens.