Henderson grinds to another top-10 finish
For a healthy chunk SAN FRANCISCO of 64 holes, Brooke Henderson was doing quite nicely in her own game of Survivor San Francisco
But with her game slightly off top form, the Smiths Falls sensation finally succumbed to the brutally tough conditions at the chilly Lake Merced Golf Club over a crucial three-hole stretch at the Swinging Skirts Classic.
With wicked winds (gusts of up to 87 km/h in the area) making it tough just to stand in one place at times, Henderson, 18, went bogey, bogey, double bogey from Nos. 1113 to fall out of the running for a shot at second place.
However, showcasing her perseverance, Henderson bounced back with birdies on Nos. 14 and 16 to extend her string of top-10s to eight straight tournaments (nine if you count a European Tour event) in this, her first full season on the LPGA Tour. Henderson ended up at one-under for the tournament after a four-over 76 in the final round to tie for sixth, eight strokes behind winner Haru Nomura of Japan.
“It was a tough day out there for sure. Extremely windy and pretty cold,” said Henderson, who compared it to British Open conditions. “They had the pins in some tough places and the course plays long and tough as it is. Today was definitely a test and a challenge, but I’m happy to finish tied sixth and just excited to get ready for next week.”
Tied for fourth entering the day, Henderson’ s ability to rebound after the three-hole stumble allowed her not to fall too far down the leaderboard. It wasn’t too far off her thirdplace finish here as a non-member last year, which began her remarkable run from No. 207 in the world to No. 7 over the past year.
“Coming back after that (run of bogeys) was really important for me,” she said. “It was a tough threehole stretch and it shouldn’t have been like that. But you just move on, move forward and I was happy I was able to finish two-under over the last couple.”
The 76 on a day when almost the entire field went backward was Henderson’s worst round of a very impressive first full season on the LPGA Tour — her previous highest rounds had been a pair of 73s. It wasn’t what Henderson has typically done in final rounds, where she has been at her best in previous weeks. In her last four final rounds, she was a combined 20-under par.
Henderson was within two shots of second place after a marvellous par save on a loosely played No. 10 on Sunday. But while her shot from a greenside bunker didn’t make it over a ridge on No. 11, playing partner Na Yeon Choi fashioned an impressive birdie after a poor tee shot and that gap to second place extended to four.
Several more off-target shots followed over the next two holes, taking away any shot at a top-five showing.
However, this final round is probably nothing more than a minor setback, considering Henderson’s recent track record. Her normally superb ball striking wasn’t there this week, but she made up for it with some outstanding work on and around the greens, especially on Saturday during a bogey-free 69.
“I think my short game did step up for me this week,” Henderson said.
“(On the couple shots) I did mishit or tough greens where I didn’t hit a perfect (approach) shot I was able to save par or chip in like I did (on Saturday) on 18. I think my short game has definitely improved over the last couple of weeks and hopefully I’ll just get my ball striking back to where it is.”
Still, Henderson is a constant in the top 10 — and that’s a very good thing.
“I think any week to finish top 10 on LPGA Tour is a good week, solid week,” Henderson said. “I just have to stay patient and hopefully good things will come.”
I think my short game has definitely improved ... and hopefully I’ll just get my ball striking back to where it is.