There’s no question Brooke Henderson arrived in Regina for this weeks’ CP Women’s Open as a favourite, both of fans, and to win the tournament. After all, she’s coming off a weekend in which she shot 63 to vault into contention, and is the 14th-ranked player in the world. She comes to Wascana Country Club with the hopes of a country behind her, a pressure the Golf Town athlete has learned to deal with since her first CP Women’s Open at the age of 14.
The Brooke Brigade—a group of cheering junior fans—will be in full force again. Golf Town has already given out over 250 Brooke Brigade t-shirts to junior golfers, and will be giving them away on site at the tournament to the first 75 juniors each day that visit the Golf Town booth.
What does the support of the #BrookeBrigade mean to @BrookeHenderson? pic.twitter.com/Mv4YFdwSHp
— Golf Town (@GolfTown) August 22, 2018
Sitting next to Brooke during her press conference on Tuesday was the likeness of her very own bobblehead, which will available for FREE for juniors at all Golf Town locations later this year.
Last year Brooke energized Ottawa Hunt at her hometown event, shooting an 8-under 63 on Saturday to move into contention. Ultimately, she didn’t win, but Brooke said she’ll build on that experience this week.
“Being able to shoot 63, course record, on the Saturday was definitely a highlight of my whole year and almost of my whole career, too,” she said. “So hopefully this year over the next couple days I can play really well and hopefully give the fans something to cheer about.”
She comes to Regina prepared to take a shot at the title. Brooke has eight Top 10 finishes this year, including a win, and finished in a tie for seventh at her last tournament, the Indy Women in Tech Championship.
“I think coming into this week I’m well rested and feel like my game is in a good spot, so I can definitely give a little more attention off the course as well,” she said.
When she first appeared at the CP Women’s Open, she was a wide-eyed teen playing as an amateur, trying to show she was more than a curiosity. She returns this week as a golf superstar, and one of the most recognizable faces in the game. But that doesn’t mean Brooke, now 20, is that removed from the days when she would come to watch the women’s national open championship as a fan, hoping to catch a glimpse of her idols, golfers like Morgan Pressel.
“You know, growing up and watching Canadian Women’s Opens as a fan I just really admired everybody there,” she said. “To now be in that position on the first tee and look out and see the whole grass covered outside the ropes by people is really cool. I kind of have to pinch myself and wake up a little bit.”
And she comes to the week with her own set up expectations.
“Hopefully I can, like I said, just kind of play my own game, play well, and give them something that they can be excited about,” she said. “Hopefully put on a good show so that on the weekend I can give it a run on Sunday.”
The whole country will be cheering for her.