FOR THE WIN @BrookeHenderson is a two-time major champion! 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/G2RAI2RMKs
— LPGA (@LPGA) July 24, 2022
Brooke Henderson made Canadian golf history once again at the Amundi Evian Championship in France.
Henderson already had more tour wins than any other Canadian going into Sunday’s final round, which she led by two shots.
She birdied three of her final five holes, including the final hole on Sunday, to finish with an even par 71.
“I feel like I did pretty good job and (sister/caddie Brittany) was really key in that, just reminding me that we’re still in it. Just relax and hit good shots. Try to hit fairways, greens. Just keep it simple,” said Henderson.
“Then, I was trying to make as many birdies as I could coming down the stretch, because the saying is that majors are won on the back nine on Sunday, so I just tried to hit really solid shots and make as many birdies as I could,” she added.
At 17 under, Henderson not only took her 12th career win, but also her second career major title, one more than any other Canadian.
Sandra Post (1968 LPGA Championship) and Mike Weir (2003 Masters) are the other Canadian to win major championships. Henderson won her first major title at the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
A major champion once again.
Brooke Henderson wins The Amundi Evian Championship 🏆 pic.twitter.com/eZ2bKSNUmj
— LPGA (@LPGA) July 24, 2022
It didn’t come easy on Sunday for Henderson, who opened with a bogey on the first hole, while So Yeon Ryu birdied to eliminate the two-shot edge for Henderson.
However, a bogey on three and a double bogey on five by Ryu left the margin at one shot for Henderson after she double bogeyed six, including four putts.
“Off the tee I hit it in the bunker and it was definitely not the best place to be. It was a pretty great shot, just hit the green there. Unfortunately, I had like 30 yards of a putt left,” said Henderson.
“That was just tough. I feel like these greens are really tricky and such a great putter, So Yeon, four-putting the previous hole, it’s very possible out here and I think that was a good reminder that even very talented players can make mistakes on the greens here,” she said.
“So I tried not to let it bother me too much, but obviously, that does shake you up a little bit. But I was able to bounce back and birdie the next hole,” she added.
After that birdie on seven, Henderson went on to the second nine with a one-shot lead, which she lost with a bogey on the 11th hole, leaving her in a tie for top spot.
A birdie by American Sophia Schubert on 12 gave her the lead, but Henderson came back to share the lead with birdies on 14 and 15, while Schubert birdied 15.
“The pin was up on the par three 14th, but the tees were all the way in the back, so I hit a full hybrid. I was actually looking forward to that shot most of the day,” said Henderson.
“I felt like I could hit one close there and I was happy when I was able to walk up there and it was only, I guess, five feet or so. Putt kind of went all the way around the hole almost, but it dropped, and that kind of settled me down and got me thinking let’s make as many as we can here,” she said.
With both parring 16 and 17, Henderson sunk a 10-foot birdie putt on the par five final hole to win by one over Schubert, who parred the last hole. Henderson won $1-million for the win.
“The goal was to hit the green in two, and unfortunately, the drive found the rough. I was able to hit it on in three and make the birdie putt.,” said Henderson.
“It was really close the whole day. I think just having such a poor start and then staying patient and knowing that I was never really out of it and to be able to climb back really means a lot,” she said.
It was Henderson’s second victory of the season after taking the ShopRite LPGA Classic last month and her seventh top 10 finish of 2022. Her schedule in the next month includes this week’s Scottish Open, followed by another major, the AIG Women’s Open.
A month from now, she’ll be teeing it up at the CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, where’s she’s an honorary member.
“It’s always an amazing feeling to get two wins on the LPGA tour in a season. To have it so close together, just a month and a half or two months apart, and then to get my second major championship. It has felt like a little while since 2016 when I won my first. it was definitely worth the wait, this one,” said Henderson.
“I’m looking forward to next week at the Scottish Open followed by the British Open,” she added.
“I feel like my game is in a good spot, so I’m excited, and hopefully, I can contend for more titles leading to the CP Women’s Open, which of course, I’ve extremely looking forward to as a CP ambassador and also having it an hour away from where you grew up is going to be crazy with fans, so I’m looking forward to that,” she said.’
The final leaderboard is here.
Senior Open Championship
Stephen Ames finished the Senior Open with an even par 70 on Sunday to tie for 20th at one under at Gleneagles in Scotland.
David Morland IV finished with a 75 to tie for 41st at five over.
Click here for the leaderboard.
PGA Tour
Michael Gligic shot a final round, two-under 69 at the 3M Classic in Blaine, Minn., on Sunday that left him tied for 16th.
With Gligic at seven under, Adam Hadwin and Roger Sloan tied for 38th, each at three under.
That leaderboard is here.
Korn Ferry Tour
Ben Silverman shot a six-under 66 in Sunday’s final round of the Price Cutter Charity Championship in Springfield, Mo.,, where he’s finished 12th.
Silverman finished the tournament at 17 under.
Click here for the leaderboard.
PGA Tour Canada
American Danny Walker won the Osprey Valley Open in Caledon, Ont., with a birdie on the first playoff hole against Cooper Musselman after both finished regulation play at 16 under.
Wil Bateman (Edmonton), Myles Creighton (Digby, N.S.), Andrew Harrison (Camrose, Alta.) and Max Sear (Markham, Ont.) were top Canadians, all finishing 10 under and in a tie for 13th place.
That leaderboard is here.
