The winningest Canadian player in history returned to her winning ways at the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open. Brooke Henderson ended a victory drought that dated back to June 2019 in show-stopping fashion, toppling No. 1-ranked Jin Young Ko, Jessica Korda and Hannah Green at historic Wilshire Country Club with a closing 67.
The victory gives 23-year-old Henderson her 10th career victory, tying Ariya Jutanugarn, Shanshan Feng and Paula Creamer among active players. With golf courses closed in Henderson’s native Ontario until at least May 20 due to COVID-19 restrictions, the victory at last gave some of Henderson’s biggest supporters reason to smile back home.
“I think as I age I’m getting more nerves,” said Henderson when it was over.
Henderson, who finished at 16-under 268, looked anything but nervous when she hit a gutsy pitch on the closing par-3 18th to keep her one-shot cushion over Korda, who knocked it in close for birdie to finish solo second.
“That would be hard to pull off if she was by herself on Tuesday,” marveled Golf Channel analyst Judy Rankin of the deft up-and-down Henderson pulled off on the 72nd hole.
Short game magic from @BrookeHenderson on the 18th
@lpga_LA | @GolfChannel pic.twitter.com/aVa5TdvMqb
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 25, 2021
Sparked by a stuffed approach on the 11th and a chip-in for birdie on the 12th, Henderson started the day four strokes back of Korda but opened up a three-shot lead with four to play over Ko, Korda and Aussie Hannah Green.
Korda, winner of the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, had plenty of chances down the stretch but several misfires with wedge in hand, plus a bogey on the drivable par-4 14th and a par on the reachable par-5 15th, kept her from collecting another trophy.
As the tour heads to Asia for events in Singapore and Thailand, both Jessica and Nelly Korda, two of the hottest players in the game this season, will have three weeks off.
“Really frustrating, really couldn’t get anything going,” said Korda. “I was hitting it really good and then just it wasn’t happening for me for some reason.
“Just kept getting screwed and the wind kept dropping and then coming back up and we were – we just – it just wasn’t happening. I don’t know.”
Green carded a final-round 66 that included an eagle on the 14th to vault into a share of third.
Henderson came into the week with a pair of top-10 finishes on the season and hasn’t had her father/coach Dave on the road with her since January 2020. The Hendersons travel often with their two daughters, particularly at big events.
With dad back home in Smiths Falls, Ontario, they’ve used FaceTime to keep on track. Big sister Brittany helps too, particularly on the greens. Henderson noted after Friday’s round that she finally felt comfortable with the putter.
“I felt like I was playing really great golf,” said Henderson of the nearly two-year drought. “It just wasn’t my time. God has a plan for everything, and just really happy. Brit and I been working really hard, and so it’s nice to get the win and get some confidence back.”
Angela Stanford, 43, had a roller-coaster round that had her within two shots early in the back nine after a holed bunker shot on the 11th. A double-bogey on the 12th, however, took her out of the conversation down the stretch on Saturday. A closing 70 put the assistant Solheim Cup captain in a share of fifth.
USC grad Tiffany Chan played so much golf at Wilshire in college that she considered the club her second home. Chan posted a career-best tie for eighth this week thanks to a closing 69.
UCLA grad Alison Lee Monday-qualified for the LA Open with a closing eagle. After a third-round 79 send her tumbling down the board, the former Solheim Cup player carded five consecutive birdies on the back nine to shoot 66 and finished tied for 39th in her second start of the season.