Eager to End Title Drought, Henderson Focused on Early-Round Starts in Bid to Re-Enter Contention
Eager to End Title Drought, Henderson Focused on Early-Round Starts in Bid to Re-Enter Contention
Brooke Henderson is no stranger to Sunday pressure—she’s faced it, conquered it, and lifted trophies because of it. But in 2025, the Canadian golf star is shifting her focus to something a bit earlier: the opening rounds.
After two seasons without a victory, Henderson has identified her Thursday and Friday play as the key to climbing back into contention. Despite flashes of brilliance and several top-10 finishes, she’s often found herself playing catch-up after lackluster starts. This year, she’s determined to flip that script.
“I’ve realized the importance of getting into the mix right away,” Henderson said ahead of her next LPGA start. “You can’t expect to make up too much ground on the weekend anymore. Everyone is too good, the scoring is too low. Starting strong is everything.”
It’s a strategic shift rooted in performance data and experience. Henderson, once known for fast starts and aggressive play, has had several tournaments in the past year where weekend charges fell short simply because she was too far back after 36 holes. Her new approach? Treat Thursday like Sunday.
To help achieve that, Henderson has revamped her practice routines. Early-week prep is now more focused on course-specific strategy, fine-tuning pace on the greens, and locking in tee-shot placement. She’s also working closely with her caddie and sister, Brittany, to map out conservative-aggressive hybrids—tactical plays that balance risk with her naturally powerful game.
“It’s about finding the right rhythm early,” she explained. “I want to walk off the first two rounds knowing I gave myself a real chance, rather than having to force something late.”
The push comes amid her longest title drought since joining the LPGA Tour in 2015. Her last win came in 2023, and while she remains one of the Tour’s most consistent performers, the hunger for a 14th career victory is growing.
Still just 27, Henderson knows she has time—but also understands that windows close quickly in professional golf. With a refreshed game plan, improved vision following eye surgery, and new equipment in the bag, the ingredients for success are there.
The question now is whether she can string together the kind of strong starts that build momentum and confidence over four rounds. If she can, Henderson won’t just be re-entering contention—she’ll be contending to win.
And that’s exactly where she wants to be.
