Changes to Brooke Henderson’s game pay dividends with second place finish at opening event of LPGA season

ORLANDO, Fla. There have been a couple of issues Brooke Henderson was doing in a different way for the primary occasion of the LPGA season. However, by late Sunday, there was only one golfer larger than her on the leaderboard. The brand new stuff is figuring out simply wonderful.

The Smiths Falls, Ont., native completed second on the Hilton Grand Holidays Event of Champions, three pictures again of winner Danielle Kang. Henderson closed with a 2-under 70 that left her at 13 underneath for the week, and the end was her greatest on the LPGA Tour since she gained in Los Angeles final April.

Henderson performed with a brand new model of golf ball this week, and putted with the flagstick left within the gap for the primary time. She believes her struggles on the greens lately have been psychological, and leaving the flagstick in has made her extra assured, giving her a extra particular aiming level and serving to on brief par-savers that might make or break her spherical. She appeared assured and dedicated on Sunday.

“My placing has made big beneficial properties,” Henderson stated. “I’m actually proud of it and the way it labored this week and hopefully … I can proceed to make extra.”

Henderson didn’t make a bogey over her closing 36 holes however didn’t make any birdies on par 5s throughout that stretch, both. She felt there have been a couple of alternatives left uncapitalized on a chilly Florida day the place the temperature by no means acquired to double digits.

“Actually, I’m a bit bummed proper now as a result of I may have performed a little bit bit higher and I may have gained,” Henderson stated, “however on the identical time I’m actually excited.

“Tomorrow I’m going to be actually proud of (second place) however proper now I’m kicking myself a little bit bit.”

Henderson made 5 straight pars to start out the day earlier than rolling in a 12-foot birdie on the par-3 sixth. The one different birdie got here on the par-3 thirteenth, from throughout the inexperienced.

“I assumed that was one of many hardest holes on this golf course,” she stated. “On the level, I felt like I may make a cost coming in. Sadly I didn’t, however it was an incredible putt.”

Henderson stated it was virtually extra of a psychological grind than a bodily one in robust circumstances. She and sister Brittany, her caddy, had been spending additional time over most pictures calculating for wind and chilly whereas additionally factoring within the distance her new ball travels.

“(I used to be) Brit and was like, ‘The quantity you’re (making an attempt to hit) is method over the again of the inexperienced.’ ” Henderson stated. “It’s exhausting to decide to it typically. I struggled with that a little bit bit right now, however hopefully subsequent week might be lots hotter.”

Kang’s putter was heat Sunday. She birdied 4 of her first six holes after making the flip and that was all of the separation she wanted on a tough scoring day. It was her sixth victory on the LPGA Tour.

“I shot 4 underneath within the chilly right now and three underneath yesterday,” Kang stated. “In all probability one of the best I’ve ever performed within the chilly and I’m pleased with myself for that.”

Gaby Lopez completed third, a shot behind Henderson, at 12 underneath. Celine Boutier and world No.1 Nelly Korda tied for fourth at 10 underneath.