Canada’s Brooke Henderson looking to put on a show at CPKC Women’s Open

CALGARY – It’s late afternoon on Tuesday, and the smoky haze from the wildfires burning through British Columbia and just north in Jasper National Park has laid a grey-orange hue over the CPKC Women’s Open. But the brightness of Brooke Henderson’s pearly white smile is unmistakable.

She squeezes in a few holes, and works on her numbers – key this week, playing at 3,500 feet, or thereabouts, above sea level. It’s been a fine season so far. A half-dozen top-10 results, including a tie for third at the first major of the year. Some pedestrian finishes at some big tournaments. But there is still a lot to play for.

The LPGA Tour heads to the Old Course at St Andrews for its British Open in a couple of weeks. There’s the CME Group Tour Championship and its $4-million first-place prize in November. There’s the Olympics, where Henderson is hoping to be part of the closing ceremony with a third-time-is-a-charm medal around her neck.

And then there’s this week. The CPKC Women’s Open in Calgary. The Brooke Brigade is ready to cheer on its leader.

And Henderson wants nothing more than to put on a show.

Some kind of backdrop for a 50th Edition!

Welcome to @cpkcwomensopen week. pic.twitter.com/Dr2eqWrASK

— CPKC Women’s Open (@cpkcwomensopen) July 22, 2024

“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 said.

“What an amazing opportunity to be back and competing for my national championship.”

For all of the compartmentalization that comes along with this tournament – from tickets to tents, you can’t miss Henderson’s face – Henderson, as she’s pushed through her mid-20s, is handling it well. There’s responsibility, of course, in a week like this. Hands to shake and smiles to give and on-site content shoots and off-site dress-ups.

Her results at this event, however, have been solid.

There was the big win in 2018, the monkey off her back early in her career, so she never had to be asked about winning Canada’s National Open ever again. She was in the final group on Sunday the following year in Aurora (no one was going to beat Jin Young Ko that week, however, as the then world No.1 set the tournament scoring record). The event was off for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic before Henderson carried the tournament on her back with its triumphant return in Ottawa – the first of back-to-back years that it was named ‘Tournament of the Year’ at the year-end LPGA Tour awards.

“I’ve actually played with Brooke a couple of times when they have had The Rink hole,” said former world No. 1 Minjee Lee, “and it’s mad.”

Those fans will be out in force again – with attendance on track to out-sell last year in Vancouver – and Henderson said she is buoyed by them more this week than any other on tour.

Her game has been trending in the right direction, she said. Henderson is sixth on the PGA Tour in Greens in Regulation and seventh in Scoring Average – improvements, both, from a year ago.

With Calgary under a severe heat advisory, Henderson said between the temperature and the elevation change the ball is “flying really far” which is fun to see, but it makes things more challenging for her to dial in her numbers with her approach shots.

“That’s kind of what we’re doing in these days leading up – just trying to get the numbers where we are comfortable heading into the weekend,” Henderson said. “Hitting a lot of fairways will definitely be important. Getting the right distances, like every week, is a big key.

Swing so nice, you want to see it twice @BrookeHenderson is getting ready for this week in Calgary. #Qi10Driver #TeamTaylorMade pic.twitter.com/343UIsvp5p

— TaylorMade Canada (@TaylorMadeCA) July 22, 2024

“I think the scores will be pretty low. Just being able to go out and attack where you can and be smart-aggressive on holes where par is good.”

Henderson admitted she’s gone through countless putters of late and is so very far away from thinking technical thoughts with the flatstick.

“Just trying to find the right energy,” Henderson said. “Try to just find something that clicks. It’s not the putter’s fault, but just trying to elevate myself to that higher energy, good vibes. Just find something that works really well.”

At 26, Henderson certainly isn’t old. But December will mark the 10th anniversary of her turning professional. And there is a group of junior and amateur golfers who are in the field who point to her and her accomplishments as the inspiration for why they want to play golf at all – like 15-year-old Michelle Xing, who became the youngest PGA Women’s Championship of Canada winner in the tournament’s history three weeks ago to earn a spot in the field at Earl Grey.

Arrivals: HER.

Welcome, @BrookeHenderson pic.twitter.com/wGwMnzCLxg

— CPKC Women’s Open (@cpkcwomensopen) July 22, 2024

Henderson said hearing the new generation say that she is their hero means 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,” Henderson said. “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 those are – is a really special feeling for me.”

And another way Henderson can inspire even more young Canadians to pick up golf?

Win another CPKC Women’s Open.