HENDERSON BATTLES HER WAY TO VICTORY IN FRENCH MAJOR
Canadian recovers on the back nine
At the end of a final round that tested her patience, and the nerves of an entire country, Brooke Henderson stood 12 feet away from her second major golf championship title.
Henderson rolled in the birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the Amundi Evian Championship in Evianles-bains, France, her first major win in six years, further separating herself from every previous Canadian golfer.
“To be sitting here a twotime major champion is just an unreal feeling,” she said at the winner’s news conference.
At just 24 years old, Henderson is the first Canadian man or woman to win multiple major championships. Her 12th victory puts her four wins clear of Sandra Post, Mike Weir and George Knudson on the sport’s top tours.
“In 2016, winning the first major changed my life,” she said of the playoff win over Lydia Ko at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. “My world ranking shot up and I just received a ton more attention from fans and media. It also made me feel like I really belonged out here, and that I could contend for big, major championships and compete against the best in the world, which is an amazing feeling.”
Powered by opening rounds of 64-64, Henderson shot a fourth round par 71 for a 17-under total, and a one-shot victory over American rookie Sophia Schubert (68).
“It was amazing, the huge crowds that were out this week, and especially around the 18th hole,” Henderson said. “Over that putt, you know, really I just didn’t want to go to a playoff. Did not want to play that hole again. So I was like, please go in.”
Majors are won on the back 9 on Sunday. That was the mantra going through Henderson’s mind during the final round on the shores of Lake Geneva, which was a good thing considering how the front 9 went for the Smiths Falls, Ont., native.
Beginning the day with a two-stroke lead over So Yeon Ryu, Henderson’s lead was stretched to three after Ryu made a four-putt double bogey at the fifth hole. But the Canadian gave it right back with a four-putt double of her own at the par-4 sixth hole, setting up a sprint to the finish.
Playing without her A game, Henderson shook off the mistake with a clutch bounceback birdie at the par-5 seventh hole, but a bogey at the 11th dropped Henderson to 14-under and one back of the lead. There was no shortage of contenders on the back nine, including former world
No. 1 Nelly Korda (69), who chipped in for eagle at the ninth hole to temporarily tie Henderson at 14-under before fading down the stretch. Ko, another former No. 1, made five birdies in her final 10 holes to shoot 66 and finish in a five-way tie for third at 15-under.
The 26-year-old Schubert entered the week ranked 283rd, but the underdog couldn’t birdie the 484-yard par-5 18th hole that opened the door for Henderson playing one group behind. With birdies at hole Nos. 14 and 15, Canada’s star was back in control of her destiny. After being forced to lay up at the final hole, Henderson’s trademark power game couldn’t be the difference; it would come down to a wedge shot and a putt, and she delivered.
The win is Henderson’s second in two months. The most noticeable change in her game has been on the greens, where she has switched to a left-hand low putting stroke. She first used the grip in competition last
March, but only on putts inside 10 feet. Now using it everywhere, and leaving the flagsticks in on every putt, Henderson has found confidence in the most challenging part of her game.
She also highlighted a recent trip home to Canada as a turning point.
“I think also just spending time with my mom back home just really helped gain some perspective, kind of put my head in the right place, so I could come back out here on tour and compete,” Henderson said. “To have two victories within a couple of months is really exciting. I think it was just kind of getting the right mindset on, and hopefully I can continue that momentum going forward.”
Henderson’s Canadian fans on Sunday included the PGA’S Corey Conners, who tuned in from his home in Florida.
“It’s so amazing to watch Brooke continue to have such success,” the Listowel, Ont., native said. “As impressive as her first two rounds were, it was so great to see her stay out front. She always seemed to bounce back from mistakes with a smile on her face. I’ve said it before, but she still has many more victories and majors in her future. It’s very inspiring to watch.”
Sitting with her trophy, Henderson had a message for all her fans.
“Thank you so much for watching and supporting, and sorry for making it so interesting,” she said. “Happy to get it done, and thank you so much.”