Golf Town Athlete Brooke Henderson has some serious momentum heading into the U.S. Women’s Open after finishing in a three-way tie for second place at the Pure Silk Championship presented by Visit Williamsburg.

 “To shoot 3 under on a Sunday and be that close to the leaderboard and know that you left some out there is a good thing,” Henderson said. “So definitely just looking forward to the rest of the summer.

“I think this was a good way to lead into the U.S. Open next week.”Henderson knows the U.S. Women’s Open is a big deal on the LPGA Tour. In fact, it may be the biggest.

“You get there and the atmosphere is just so different. The atmosphere at a major championship compared to a regular LPGA Tour event is a step up, but you get to the U.S. Open and it’s even a step above that,” said Henderson as she prepares for this year’s event at the Country Club of Charleston.

Henderson has some experience at the course, having played the U.S. Women’s Amateur there in 2013. She calls the club, which is more than a century old, absolutely beautiful. Having played the course before, she said, will give her an advantage. Remembering the holes and where to be and where to miss is going to be key.

Not only will Henderson herself have some experience at the course, but sister/caddie Brittany went to school at Coastal Carolina University, less than two hours away. Brittany was just inducted into the CCU Sports Hall of Fame in November, and Henderson said she’s hoping for some higher energy from the crowds, given Brittany’s connection to the area.

Henderson has played consistently at the U.S. Women’s Open in her career.  Although she had to withdraw in 2018 after the sudden death of her grandfather last summer, she has made the cut every year she’s played the major. Her best finish was in 2015, when she was still an amateur. In fact, her two best finishes in the U.S. Women’s Open came before she turned professional – in 2014 she finished T-10 at Pinehurst and the following year she finished T-5 at Lancaster Country Club.

At the first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, Henderson finished T-17, one of seven top-20 results in 2019. Although she has missed two cuts this year, when she does find the weekend she’s been playing steady golf. Of course, less than a month ago she won for the eighth time on the LPGA Tour at the LOTTE Championship to tie the all-time Canadian wins record – male or female.

The Country Club of Charleston should set up well for her game. It’s a classic design, and Henderson will be able to use her length to her advantage. The key will be on the putting surfaces, as, per usual at the U.S. Women’s Open, the greens will be running quick.

Henderson put a new putter in the bag last week, PING’s Sigma 2 Fetch. It was the first time she changed putters in 2019 and is looking forward to getting some good vibes rolling with her new flat-stick.

The U.S. Women’s Open will be the second event of a six-in-a-row stretch for Henderson, which also includes the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, another major.

But for now, Henderson has a laser-like focus on trying to win the U.S. Women’s Open – the biggest tournament of the year. And if she does, she’ll break the all-time mark for wins by a Canadian on the LPGA or PGA Tour.

“It’s one I’d love to win. I’d love to win them all but the U.S. Women’s Open that’s a big one that hopefully I can get before my career is over,” she said. “That one is special.”

Three other Canadians will join Henderson in the field at this year’s U.S. Women’s Open. Celeste Dao of Quebec and Megan Osland of British Columbia won qualifiers earlier in May to earn spots in the event. Naomi Ko, also of British Columbia, qualified in April. It’s Dao’s second straight appearance in the U.S. Women’s Open and the first for Osland and Ko.