HENDERSON FACING A MAJOR TEST
Canadian has some ground to make up after slow start at U.S. Women’s Open
In a very different year and a very different week, the world's best female golfers found a familiar championship.
Sure, it's being played two weeks before Christmas with no fans and across two golf courses, but there's no mistaking the challenge ahead. On Thursday at Champions Golf Club in Houston, just 23 of 156 players broke par in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open.
Unfortunately for Canadian golf fans, Brooke Henderson wasn't one of them.
The 23-year-old star shot a 1-over 72 on the slightly less difficult Jackrabbit course, and will continue her hunt for a second career major on Friday at the Cypress Creek course.
“I hit it really well today, gave myself a lot of good birdie looks,” Henderson said after her round.
“Unfortunately, I didn't capitalize and made a few mistakes that cost me. Overall, I felt like I hit it pretty well, so looking forward to tomorrow.”
Starting off on the 10th tee, Henderson made just a single birdie and a single bogey over her first nine holes to make the turn at level par. While not exciting, that's the type of start one looks for at any U.S. Open. After a birdie early in her second nine, at the par-4 second hole, she bogeyed the fourth hole, before losing another shot at the eighth that pushed her to the wrong side of par.
“Pretty steady, just a disappointing bogey on No. 8, my 17th hole today,” she said.
Henderson will switch to Champions Golf Club's Cypress Creek course, and its massive greens, on Friday.
Cypress Creek was the intended venue for all four days of this championship before it was delayed six months by the COVID-19 pandemic. The move from summer to winter in Texas means the days are much shorter, which necessitated each golfer playing one of their first two rounds on the Jackrabbit course. Once the 36-hole cut is made and the field is smaller, the final two rounds will be played exclusively at the Cypress Creek course.
American Amy Olson is the first round leader after shooting a 4-under 67 at Cypress Creek that included a hole-in-one at the 139-yard par-3 16th hole.
“It landed two paces short of the flag, had some good spin on it and just trickled in,” Olson said. “We saw the whole thing, which was fun.”
Beginning her day on the 10th hole, Olson's ace at the 16th kick-started her day as she birdied the 17th hole, then made the turn to the front nine where she had three more birdies.
“I definitely allowed myself to celebrate there and enjoy the moment,” Olson said. “I think it's important to enjoy the little things and the moments along the way and not kind of get ahead of yourself.”
Moriya Jutanugarn, Hinako Shibuno and A Lim Kim are one shot back of Olson at 3-under par.
A group of seven golfers, including Women's British Open champion Sophia Popov, are tied for fifth at 2-under.
Henderson, of Smiths Falls, Ont., has some ground to make up to make some noise this week, but the 2016 Women's PGA Championship winner was happy with her game on Thursday and won't be looking to change her strategy on Friday.
“A lot of the same things I did today,” she said of her plans for the rest of the week. “Hopefully, just make a few more birdies, one or two at the start, to get rid of this over-par that I'm on right now.”
Canadian Alena Sharp of Hamilton shot a 4-over 75 on Thursday.
Henderson tees off at 10:37 a.m. local time on Friday.
I hit it really well today gave myself a lot of good birdie looks. Unfortunately, I didn't capitalize and made a few mistakes that cost me.