Mel Reid given the green light to defend title as LET season starts this week

Mel Reid has been given the medical all-clear to defend her Oates Vic Open title this week after her winter break allowed her to recover from a back problem.

Reid got her 2017 campaign off to the ideal start when she edged out Sandra Gal in a play-off at Barwon Heads last year, but that proved to be her only success of the season as she was hampered by a back injury she suffered in bizarre circumstances.

The 30-year-old was able to play on despite slipping a disc in her kitchen at home, and Reid then aggravated the injury shortly after the Solheim Cup in Iowa.

Reid admits she should have taken time off rather than risk further damage to her back, but she is now closing in on full fitness and raring to go as she defends her title against a strong field which includes reigning European No 1 Georgia Hall, Cheyenne Woods and world No 20 Minjee Lee.

"Whenever you defend a title, it's always very, very, nice," said Reid. "It was certainly one of my favourite weeks last year and this is where I wanted to start my 2018 season. I enjoyed the golf course. It sets up well for my eye and I've played some relatively decent golf. Wherever you've won, you have some good memories."

When asked about her injury issues last year, Reid joked: "This is why I shouldn't do housework! I did it picking something up out of the dishwasher, so obviously I can't do that anymore!

"I slipped a disc and I played the season with it, which was fine. It repaired itself and then I did it again in about September. I bulged one of my discs and I probably shouldn't have played from September onwards, but I did, and that was a mistake.

"My instinct was saying not to play but I carried on and did a bit of damage to it really, so I shouldn't have done that. My main goal this winter was to get healthy and I only got the all clear two days ago, so I only booked my flight on Thursday night. I haven't hit many golf balls, so it could be a good thing, or it could be a bad thing, I'm not sure.

"My goal in the winter was to get fit and healthy and I've managed to do that to about 75, 80 per cent. I've not got huge expectations this week, but I'd definitely like to put myself in some sort of contention."

Hall claimed the title at Barwon Heads as a 19-year-old in 2016 but was unable to defend last year, and she is delighted to be back at the scene of her biggest victory as a professional.

"I've got some great memories, as being here was a really happy moment for me. It's great to be back after missing out on last year," she said.

"Funnily enough, I remember every single golf hole on each course. It's pretty much the same, but me as a person, I'm a lot different than two years ago, as in my golf and myself. I've grown up a lot and my mentality is a lot better and my golf has improved a lot, so I'm back as a more grown-up Georgia and I'm excited for Thursday to get the week going.

"This is a big tournament for me, simply because it was the biggest win I've had and the first tournament of the year is important because I want to get the year off to a good start. I really want to do well this week and hopefully I'll win.

"This is my first event of the season, so I've had almost two months off. I want to see where my golf is this year. I won it a couple of years ago, so I'm going to go out there and relax and try to hit good golf shots. I've had a good break. I think I needed that because I was quite tired at the end of last season. I'm excited to get going, more so than any other year."