Henderson out of rivalry at CPKC Ladies’s Open after ‘disappointing’ spherical

VANCOUVER – There was a half-hearted model of ‘O Canada,’ and some little waves, after which three dozen autographs after her spherical. Brooke Henderson acquired the love, there’s little doubt about that, however she left the third spherical on the CPKC Ladies’s Open disillusioned together with her day – and her week up to now.

The Canadian celebrity shot a 3-over 75 within the third spherical to fall nicely down the leaderboard. A return to the winner’s circle in Canada should wait for an additional 12 months. She’s at 2 over for the week and tied for thirty fourth.

“You realize, it’s probably not clicking proper now however I really feel I’m sort of conserving it collectively one of the best I can,” Henderson mentioned. “Nothing is tremendous sharp proper now, so simply attempting to grind it out.

“Backside line was I wasn’t making birdies. This course is hard sufficient that you just’re going to make some bogeys on the market, so that you sort of must counter that.”

The distinction as soon as once more was the ball-striking. Henderson hit simply half of her fairways on Saturday on the difficult Shaughnessy Golf and Nation Membership and eight greens in regulation. She bogeyed Nos. 5 and eight on the entrance 9 earlier than including one other bogey on the par-3 twelfth and a double bogey on the par-4 14th.

Henderson rolled in a birdie on the par-4 sixteenth however by that time she was unable to drag herself out of the deep gap.

“I believe at first of the day I believed if I may make a bunch of birdies I may actually climb up, which was a great feeling to have I believe. However […] the pins had been difficult in case you acquired to the flawed spots. This course, in case you hit within the tough, you’re sort of screwed,” Henderson mentioned with a smile. “I used to be within the tough quite a bit. I simply sort of ham and egged it a little bit bit, acquired it round.

“Clearly any time you’re capturing over par doesn’t really feel nice, however like I mentioned, simply attempt to exit tomorrow and make a couple of fast birdies.”

Henderson will head into Sunday nicely again of the lead held by American Megan Khang, who sits at 11 underneath by way of 54 holes. Khang leads Sei Younger Kim – who made each a hole-in-one and an eagle on a drive-able par-4 on Saturday – by three photographs.

Khang has accomplished every little thing there’s in ladies’s skilled golf, besides win – three top-10s in main championships simply this season, a multi-time member of the US’ Solheim Cup workforce, and 33 top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour.

Via three rounds of the CPKC Ladies’s Open, she’s on monitor for a breakthrough title. She mentioned she’s attempting to battle some interior psychological demons, however she’s leaning on her caddie for help.

“It’s lots of studying over the previous few years to remain affected person, don’t get too forward of myself. I advised (my caddie) earlier than the spherical, ‘hey, I really feel like I’m a little bit anxious proper now and I actually need you to be there for me.’ I won’t speak as a lot. Shocker for most individuals who don’t know me,” Khang mentioned.

“(My caddie) is there to remind me that like, ‘hey, let’s not strive so arduous and simply play our sport.’”

Whereas Khang is within the driver’s seat up to now at this 12 months’s CPKC Ladies’s Open, Henderson continues to be her map to attempt to discover success this season.

Henderson added to her win complete on the first occasion of the 2023 LPGA Tour season however continues to be on the market trying to find consistency, she mentioned. She solely has eight extra occasions left in her 2023 marketing campaign however that features the big-purse season finale CME Group Tour Championship. There’s a lot to play for.

“It’s disappointing. I really feel like I’m a little bit bit upset with simply how my sport is correct now. I’m additionally proud that I’m out right here, enjoying the weekend, and with how issues have been, I’m simply grateful to be out right here with all of the love and help from all of the followers,” Henderson mentioned. “They made me really feel quite a bit higher about myself strolling up 18. There’s a lot love right here and that actually means quite a bit to me.”

There will likely be yet one more day for these Canadian crowds to help Henderson.

To not a win, however hopefully to a strong end.