Brooke Henderson: Excited for the CPKC Women's Open

With the CPKC Women's Open set in her homeland, Brooke Henderson feels a special connection, driven by the support of her fans and the familiarity of competing in Canada.

"Yeah, I'm so excited to be back in Canada and playing in front of the amazing fans and the Brooke Brigade," Henderson shared enthusiastically. "I love seeing the red shirts and seeing everybody out there with all their support and love that they show me every single year. What an amazing opportunity to be back and competing for my national championship."

A new challenge in Calgary

This year's tournament at Earl Grey Golf Club presents new challenges for Henderson. It's her first time playing the course, having only played a few practice holes. Despite this, she's impressed with the condition of the course and eager to tackle its unique obstacles.

"It looks great. It's in really good shape. The rough is very thick. It's very important to hit a lot of fairways around here I believe," she said. "I think we're going to see some good scores, so hopefully get off to a fast start on Thursday and make a bunch of birdies."

Adjusting to the elevation and warm weather in Calgary is also a key focus for Henderson. "The elevation change is definitely a big thing, and also it's so warm out here that the ball is flying really far, which is a lot of fun, especially off the tee. But does make it a little more challenging dialling in your number on your approach shots."

Reflecting on the season

Reflecting on her season so far, Henderson remains positive and feels she is on the right track. With six Top 10 finishes, including strong performances in Major tournaments, she believes she is trending in the right direction.

"I feel like I've been trending in the right direction for a really long time now. I've been close and haven't really been able to turn it over, but feel like it's right around the corner, which is a great feeling to have," Henderson explained. "The start of the year was great, a lot of top 10s, felt like I was in contention a lot of weeks, and it was really fun to be in those final pairings on the weekend."

Looking ahead, Henderson is excited about the upcoming tournaments, including the Olympics in Paris and the AIG Women’s Open in St Andrews. "All huge highlights for me, so it's a big stretch of golf coming up, and hopefully my game can continue that trend and get a little bit closer to the top of the leaderboard."

Technical adjustments and inspirations

This year, Henderson has made several adjustments to her equipment, particularly her putter. "Quite a few. Honestly, I don't know the number, but the last few weeks I've been changing quite a bit. Just trying to find the right energy. Try to just find something that clicks."

Henderson also talked about the significance of wearing glasses, which she started using last year. "It's really nice to be able to see where your ball goes, especially off the tee and into the greens. Around the greens, it has helped a lot... I would prefer not to be wearing glasses, so hopefully maybe next year be switching to like either contacts or something else."

Inspiring the next generation at the CPKC Women's Open

Henderson's impact extends beyond her own achievements. She recognises her role as a role model for young golfers and takes pride in inspiring the next generation. "Growing up I had a lot of role models that I looked up to... Those moments, they mean a lot. They meant a lot to me as a kid, so I try to pay it forward or pay it back to everyone that comes out."

She emphasises the importance of encouraging others to pursue their dreams, whether in golf or other areas. "I'm just trying to grow the game as much as I can, and even if it's not golf that they choose to chase after, just if I can inspire or motivate them to chase after their dreams, whatever it is, I think is really a special feeling for me."

Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics

With the Olympics on the horizon, Henderson is eagerly anticipating representing Canada once again. "Yeah, any time I can represent Canada I'm very proud to do so. When I step on the first tee and hear from Smiths Falls, Ontario and everybody gets excited, it's a very cool feeling for me."

As she prepares for the Olympics in Paris, Henderson feels confident and ready, drawing on her previous experiences to guide her. "I feel like I have good experiences to lean back on from past Olympic Games, and feel like I'll be ready this year."

Hopefully, when Brooke Henderson tees off at the CPKC Women's Open, she does not feel the burden of carrying the hopes of a nation with her! One thing is for sure, she’s inspired by her past, driven by her present, and excited for her future.

The CPKC Women's Open starts on July 25, with the first tee time at 7am (MDT or GMT-6). View the full CPKC Women's Open leaderboard here.