In one of the many signs that life is returning to some semblance of normal, the ANA Inspiration – the first major of the year on the LPGA Tour – is back to its regular early-season spot on the schedule.

Brooke Henderson is looking to take advantage of the momentum following a near-miss in 2020 with a victory in 2021.

The ANA Inspiration, an annual stop on the LPGA Tour’s schedule (usually in early April) was moved to mid-September due to complications surrounding COVID-19. Brooke, after firing a Saturday 65 to zoom up the leaderboard, ended up losing in a three-way playoff. Mirim Lee rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to defeat Brooke and Nelly Korda.

“Last year having such a great finish was really exciting for me and definitely gave me a lot of confidence going into this year knowing I can compete well on that golf course and put myself in contention,” says Brooke.

Brooke finished at 15-under for the week. Her runner-up result was her first top-5 finish at a major championship since The Evian Championship in 2018.

She says returning to the same golf course every year to play the ANA Inspiration – Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California – has improved both her mental and physical approach to the tournament.

“It’s so special. The atmosphere is like no other,” says Brooke. “The tradition and the history that’s involved with that event… it gives you chills just thinking about it.”

Brooke says having a great finish a year ago was exciting, and it has given her a lot of confidence going into this season. She knows she can compete well at Mission Hills.

“Every year I understand the golf course a little bit more. Each hole I have a better strategy, and even putts on greens I feel like I can read them a lot better. I’ve had them in the past, so I remember them,” says Brooke.

For example, Brooke admits she didn’t quite trust the secret that all the puts break towards Indio, a town about 20 minutes from the golf course. But Brooke says the more she’s played the golf course, the more she trusts things like that.

Brooke says in 2020 she had a unique week having played solid in the first two rounds but the 65 on Saturday put her squarely in contention. She played in the final group Sunday alongside Korda, who Brooke counts as a good friend and calls a great player. They had full, Brooke said, hitting great thots and challenging each other.

Brooke says she’s been hoping and dreaming about making the champion’s leap into Poppie’s Pond alongside sister Brittany. Fellow Canadian Sandra Post won the ANA Inspiration – then called the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle – in 1978 and 1979, and Brooke would love to add her name to the long list of impressive winners.

“I love watching the winner’s jump into Poppie’s Pond,” says Brooke. It’s such an important part of our history at the LPGA.”

Despite leaving the ANA Inspiration without the trophy last year, Brooke leaned into that success for more through the balance of 2020 – she finished in the top-10 six times last season.

The runner-up result at the ANA Inspiration was the first high finish by Brooke after a seven-month break due to COVID-19.

“It was a great way to get my game rolling again after the long break I took in 2020,” says Brooke, “and I’m just excited to be back this year and hopefully have a similar result. Maybe a little better!”