Henderson hoping to return from break ‘with a vengeance’

Brooke Henderson is looking forward to some much-needed time off and then returning to the golf course with a “vengeance.”

After the Canadian star failed to hang on to her finalround lead and finished third at last weekend’s LPGA Tour Marathon Classic in Ohio, she planned to spend some time at home before getting ready for the British Open on Aug. 2-5 in England.

“It’s so important to be physically ready but also mentally,” Henderson said after headlining a pro-am and junior clinic at the St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg.

“And, especially in the summer months when it’s so hot and you’re grinding every single day. It is tiring and you have to really pay attention and know that rest is just as important.

“So I’m excited to kind of have some downtime, get some rest and be balanced, and then get back at it and work hard. I feel like it’s good for you to kind of refresh and then go forward with a vengeance.”

Her break actually got off to a bit of a rocky start as two flights to Winnipeg out of Toronto were cancelled Monday night. She arrived Tuesday morning and the event was a hit despite some scheduling changes.

“It definitely does bring back a lot of memories,” Henderson said. “I think it kind of gives me that lift as somebody else was mentioning earlier, just that kind of little extra boost, that little extra confidence that I am on the right track, I am doing things the right way.”

Good and bad things happened to the Smith Falls, Ont., native last Sunday, but after assessing her play she was letting the disappointment of not claiming a seventh Tour victory roll off of her.

The 20-year-old still had a one-shot lead after the 14th hole, but then bogeyed the 15th and 16th.

She made par on the 17th and 18th par-five holes, but missed out on a playoff that was won by Thidapa Suwannapura of Thailand over American Brittany Lincicome.

“Leading up to that, I played amazing golf all week,” Henderson said.

“The four holes kind of don’t give the respect to those other holes that much but I was playing great.”