SWEET VICTORY
Canadian Brooke Henderson Celebrates her win At the CP Women’s Open At the WASCANA Country Club. She’s the first Canadian to win the event in 45 years.
After sinking a three-foot putt in the light rain to secure her place in Canadian golf lore, Brooke Henderson was showered with champagne as the crowd serenaded her with an impromptu rendition of O Canada.
“Those are things that I’ll remember forever,” Henderson said after capturing the CP Women’s Open title Sunday for her seventh career LPGA win. “This is probably the trophy I’ve wanted the most. To finally be able to hold it … it’s just amazing.”
It was a storybook end to a historic week at Wascana Country Club as Henderson became just the second Canadian to win the national championship and the first since Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973.
Prior to competing in her seventh open, Henderson spoke openly about what it would mean to hoist the elusive CP trophy on home soil. That talk turned to decisive action as Henderson seemed to be on a mission from the opening tee-off, riding that momentum all the way to the final hole.
If she didn’t believe in destiny before Sunday ’s triumph, she does now.
“I definitely feel like it was meant to be this week,” said Henderson, who lost two grandfathers earlier this year, but noted Sunday that “I really think they were helping me today” from above.
“Everything just kind of seemed to fall my way. I feel like when you win on the LPGA Tour it is so difficult that you kind of need those breaks and you kind of need that feeling that it’s yours. I had that this week, which is really cool. It’s just amazing and a dream come true.”
Henderson hit the ground running this week with back-to-back 6-under-par 66s, followed by a 70 on Saturday. The 20-year-old native of Smiths Falls, Ont., saved her best for last, firing a 7-under 65 to finish with a four-day total of 21-under 267.
That was good for a four-stroke victory over American Angel Yin.
“I think I put up a good fight,” said Yin, who endured temperatures that topped out at around 14 C. “It was really hard for me in the beginning. It was just too cold for me and my body wasn’t adjusting. By the back nine, I adjusted to it. I kind of got it going, but Brooke was playing extremely well.”
Although she had hoped to take a late run at Henderson, Yin didn’t mind tipping her cap to the Canadian phenom, who was the clear headliner in a field of the world’s top female golfers.
Henderson gushed all week about the support she received from massive galleries that only grew as the tournament progressed — regardless of the weather.
In the end, she didn’t let her fans down.
“Honestly, it’s great,” said Yin. “It’s great for golf in Canada and it’s great for her, too. There were people shouting her name left and right since the first hole — nine o’clock in the morning. I bet you she feels pressure, but she’s used
to it. She handled it pretty well and she finished the job.”
Not only did Henderson overcome the pressure, she also weathered everything Mother Nature had to throw at her. Day 1 began with a blistering heat and dead calm, after which the wind picked up and temperatures began to cool.
With rain in the forecast and the threat of a thunderstorm, the final round was pushed up.
The final group teed off at 9 a.m. and the rain stayed away until just before noon. There was a steady shower for the rest of the afternoon, but Henderson, who entered the day with a one-shot lead, refused to let it dampen her focus or slow her momentum.
“It was basically all four seasons, except for snow,” she said with a laugh. “That definitely made it a lot more challenging. We really adjusted extremely well to all the different conditions.”
As a result, the pressure had subsided when Henderson sunk a gimme on her final putt. It was followed by elation and relief as she took a deep breath and soaked it all in.
“It’s just amazing to be able to win this for all of Canada and for my family,” added Henderson. “I think it’ll take a little while to fully sink in. I’m the national champion, so it’s pretty cool.”