Healthy Henderson ready to defend at LA Open

TSN Senior Reporter

Follow| Archive

After withdrawing part way through last week’s Lotte Championship, Brooke Henderson pronounced herself healthy and ready to defend her title at the DIO Implant LA Open starting Thursday.

“(I’m) feeling a lot better, and just grateful to be back here with such special memories,” said Henderson, in a press conference on Wednesday. “Looking forward to hopefully having a great week over the next four days.”

So far this season, being sick is about the only thing that’s slowed down the Canadian star. She’s finished inside the top 13 in six starts prior to last week, with four of those inside the top 10. A win is about the only thing that has eluded her.

Last year at this event, held at the Wilshire Country Club, Henderson played the final round with Jin Young Ko and Jessica Korda, and made a run to start the back nine with birdies on 11, 12 and 14. She seemed to be in control until the 17th where a bogey reduced her lead to two strokes over Korda.

Despite missing the green on the par-3 18th, Henderson managed a nervy up-and-down to hold on and win by a shot.

“A lot of nerves,” said Henderson, who has never been known for her short game, “but happy I was able to get job done.”

The win was the 10th in Smiths Falls, Ont.,-product’s career, increasing her record for the most by a Canadian on a major tour. While winning that many still leaves her shaking her head, she’s not done yet.

“You know, looking back on my career I never thought I would be here so quickly,” she stated, “but I'm excited to just keep pushing forward and hopefully getting a bunch more.”

If she does manage to top the leaderboard at the end of the week, it would mark the third time Henderson has defended a title successfully.