For the first time in 45 years, a Canadian has won the CP Women's Open.
In front of hordes of fans screaming her name and singing O Canada, Brooke Henderson shot a final-round 65 and earned a decisive four-stroke win over Angel Yin on Sunday at Regina’s Wascana Country Club.
Lifted all week by the adoring Canadian fans, the 20-year-old carded birdies at five of her closing eight holes. While the win was at hand, Henderson didn’t feel it was truly hers until she put her approach at No. 18 to just 3 feet, ultimately sealing the victory.
“I know that might sound a little silly because I did have a few-shot lead, but anything can happen down the stretch,” said Henderson, who became the first Canadian since Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973 to win the CP Women’s Open. “I was pretty nervous. This was a big deal for me. To be able to hit that shot in and finally know that it was basically over was incredible, and I feel like that was the first time all day that I could really smile and really enjoy everything to its fullest.”
It's certainly been a long summer for Henderson and her family.
In early June, Henderson’s maternal grandfather, Robert Moir, passed away after a battle with cancer, causing the Canadian star to withdraw from the U.S. Women’s Open after 18 holes to rush to his side. Then her paternal grandfather, Clem Henderson, died in early August while she was in England for the Ricoh Women’s British Open.
Henderson is normally reserved on the golf course and her on-course victory festivities tend toward quiet celebrations. But the win in Canada, and all the weight lifted off her petite shoulders, brought tears to her bright blue eyes.
“I think just all the hard work that my family has put into this, my dad and my coach, my mom, my best supporter, and my sister, who's also my caddie,” said Henderson. “This was a big dream and a big goal for all of us, and I think it's just a cumulative effort of all of us that gave me the chance to be able to lift that. I mentioned I thank God for this, for this win and just the many opportunities that I've been given. My grandfathers have passed away this summer, and I really think they were helping me today.”
With her seventh win already, Henderson is just a win shy of tying Sandra Post for the most victories by a Canadian player in LPGA Tour history. With one more one, she would also join Post, Mike Weir and George Knudson as all-time Canadian golfers with eight PGA TOUR or LPGA Tour victories.