Henderson will play through injury at the Tour Championship

NAPLES, Fla.—The swing has always looked the same. The walk and the smile, too. It’s all Brooke Henderson. You can spot it easily.

And with one event left in the LPGA Tour season, Canada’s top-ranked golfer is hoping for one last celebration. Henderson, who has won twice on the tour this year, including her second major, will play for the richest first-place prize in women’s golf at the CME Group Tour Championship, and for player of the year honors.

It will be a big challenge, however. Henderson withdrew from last week’s Pelican Women’s Championship after the first round with an upper-back injury. Rest was recommended.

“While I plan to address any medical concerns and recover fully in the off-season, I am trying to do everything I can to compete this week,” Henderson said in a statement.

It has been a tremendously consistent season for Henderson, with just two finishes outside the top 20. Unfortunately, one of those came at the CP Women’s Open in Ottawa, where she tied for 49th. Still, she put that week, where she was the face of the tournament, alongside her major triumph as her top moments in 2022.

“The winning putt on 18 at the Amundi Evian Championship felt great. My second major win was amazing,” Henderson said. “But the support from the fans in Ottawa at the CP Women’s Open was really incredible. Seeing all of those people out early in the week was special.”

If Henderson wins this week and Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee finish third or worse, the Smiths Falls, Ont., golfer will be player of the year. A win combined with Lee finishing third or worse will give her the money title, too.

Henderson is sixth in the world heading into the LPGA’s season finale, fifth in scoring average, and third in total strokes gained. Her switch to a shorter driver this year impacted how far she hits it off the tee — she is 26th, the worst placing of her career — but her iron game remains elite. She is fourth in strokes gained from tee to green.

Her putting has improved as well. She is 71st in putting average after being 111th a year ago.

“I did a lot of things well this year,” Henderson said. “When you hit a lot of fairways, that puts you in a good position to hit a lot of greens and hopefully make a few putts. Driving has always been a strength for me, and it’s great to capitalize when it’s going well.”

The Tour Championship is the culmination of the season-long Race to CME Globe on the LPGA Tour. The field features only the top 60 on that list (three are eligible but not playing), with Henderson the lone Canadian.

Nelly Korda, the newly minted world No. 1, is the favorite after winning the LPGA’s penultimate event last week. Ko, Lee, and rookie of the year Atthaya Thitikul are other top-ranked notables. But Henderson is right there as a favourite, too, bum back and all.

With just 72 holes left in her season, she used just one word to put a bow on 2022. “Grateful probably sums it up best. It’s been a long few years for a lot of people, so just having the opportunity to play well in front of fans is awesome. I’m grateful to be able to play the game I love with the support of the fans.”

The Tour Championship begins Thursday, and the winner receives $2 million (US). Henderson is scheduled to tee off at 12:30 pm ET, alongside Lee.

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