Our athlete Brooke Henderson notched a top-10 finish in her first event of the year in January, but after a short break the LPGA Tour’s 2021 season really kicks into high gear starting with the Gainbridge LPGA.

From there Brooke is ready to kick the season into high gear.

After much uncertainty last year – not just with the LPGA Tour but the world at large, of course – there appears to be some semblance of normalcy, at least as it relates to what events are going to be played by the best golfers in the world.

Brooke, who spent most of the holiday season at home in Canada, has been working hard on her game in Florida over the last couple of weeks but we were able to get the inside scoop on how she’s feeling about the year ahead!

We can’t start talking about 2021 without taking a look back on 2020. How would you analyze last year, which obviously was extremely different than usual?

 Yes! Extremely different is the right way to describe it. Overall, I found my season to be a success. Only played 10 times, but I had six top-10 finishes. I felt like at times my game was in a really good spot which was really exciting. The highlight was being in the playoff of the ANA Inspiration. That was really exciting. Although I didn’t finish the way I wanted to I definitely took a lot of positives and just to be in contention at a major championship is a lot of fun.

This year… It looks like a healthy and full schedule and that’s exciting. Hopefully I can get back to playing my regular schedule, which is a lot of tournaments!

One of the things you’ve talked about is that there was a lot of learning in 2021. There were a lot of new processes. Do you feel a bit more comfortable with that process, the testing, getting from Point A to B and what’s ahead of you as it relates to playing LPGA Tour golf again?

 Yeah, absolutely. When I first went back to the LPGA, it would have been August in 2020, it was a huge learning curve. I was getting used to the new protocols and you’re trying to make yourself safe so then everyone else can be safe as well. We were just trying to do the right thing and take a little time to adjust to but near the end of 2020 I feel like we had it where we sort of knew what we were doing and hopefully everyone stays healthy and we can continue on how we’ve be doing it so far.

I’m sure you’re also excited that the COVID testing, with the little tickle of the brain, is in the rear-view mirror soon. I’m sure that’s not very comfortable!

 No, not at all (laughs).

So, let’s look ahead. One tournament down in 2021, the Tournament of Champions, it’s always such a unique and exciting way to start the season. For you to be able to be a part of Tournament of Champions field, what does that mean to you?

 You definitely want to be invited to that tournament! To go back next year I’ll have to win this year so that’s something I’ll have to work hard at. Being invited as a champion is great and being amongst some of the best athletes and the best actors and the best musicians it’s just such a cool and exciting event. Although we didn’t have fans this year, normally the fan experience makes it an incredible experience. It’s a great way to start your season because it’s a little fun and a little not-as-stressful and you also get to learn from some of the really cool celebrities.

Obviously, your off-season not as long as a normal year – in fact it was very short – but you had a bit of a break between tournaments to start 2021. What have you been working on?

 I’m really happy with where my game is at right now. Finishing last year in the top-10 of the world rankings is really important to me. My scoring average was really good and seems to be improving every year so hopefully I keep that going. Overall, consistency has been a key for me so hopefully I can keep staying consistent and keep doing the things I’ve been working on and what’s been working so far. My team and I have been pretty successful and we’re just trying to make small improvements on the way to getting a little bit better.

These last few weeks I’ve been working on the short game and on putting. I used Aimpoint more in 2015 and a little in 2016 so Brit and I have been working on that. We’ll break that out in a couple weeks again and that’s exciting. I feel very confident with that right now so hopefully that’ll make a difference in my stats.

With the news of the USGA and the R&A possibly moving back to 46 inches with the driver, that is a huge adjustment! Not a huge fan of that (laughs) but I’m working with PING and trying to get some shafts and some heads that will cooperate and give me just as good or better results as I have with my 48.

Big news between yourself and PING this year as you just re-signed another deal together. PING has been a part of your life for so long as you look to 2021 and equipment and your relationship, how would you describe it?

 It’s really exciting to be able to re-sign with PING and continue our partnership and relationship. I really love being part of the PING family. It has been a huge part of my life. I started by playing i3’s – they were my sister’s hand-me-downs. I did my first PING fitting when I was 14 and I never looked back.

Your fan galleries are always growing when you’re out there playing and of course there is the Brooke Brigade, an important part of that. It doesn’t appear as if that’s going to be something that happens on-site any time soon but for you knowing that there is a big crowd of people at home cheering you on, what does that mean to you?

 It means so much. I love the Brooke Brigade and I love all my fans so much. If they’ve come out to watch me play or even sit on the couch and watch me on TV it’s just the best. I definitely miss seeing them out at events and seeing their energy and adrenaline… just the atmosphere is a lot different without the fans. At the same time I know they’re cheering for me and supporting me and I’m really grateful for that.

Maybe we’ll leave you with this one on the 2021 schedule because it’s going to be busy, it’s going to be robust, there’s a lot to look forward to – the five majors, the Olympics is on the schedule, the CP Women’s Open is on the schedule right now… so to you, overall, 2021 is right there in front of you. How are you feeling?

 I’m just really looking forward to the opportunity to playing a lot again. Last year it taught me how much I loved to play golf and how much I missed playing competitively so I’m looking forward to opportunities to play against the best players in the world and hopefully put myself in contention a lot. I would love to get back to my two-wins-per-season streak I had rolling before 2020 so that’s a big goal, along with keeping my world-ranking inside the top-10 and hopefully creep up a little closer to the No.1 spot! I’m just grateful and really excited for the opportunities.