Brooke Henderson Aims to Rewrite LPGA Tour’s Quirky Stat at Tour Championship

Brooke Henderson, the Canadian golf sensation known for her infectious smile, faced an unexpected twist in her routine as a Floridian rainstorm disrupted the start of the pro-am for the CME Group Tour Championship, the LPGA Tour’s grand season finale. Undeterred by the setback, Henderson, a regular contender at the Tiburon Golf Club, remains optimistic about ending the year on a high note. Despite battling a neck injury in 2022, she showcased resilience with a remarkable third-round 65, securing a tie for seventh place.

Entering the Tour Championship, Henderson reflects on a season she describes as less consistent than her usual standards. While claiming victory at the Tournament of Champions, she acknowledges only two top-10 finishes and a scoring average exceeding 70. Recently switching to a TaylorMade iron model, Henderson has experienced a rapid improvement in her game, achieving an 85.7% greens hit rate over her last three tournaments, a notable surge from her season average.

Amidst her quest for a strong finish in 2023, Henderson confronts a peculiar LPGA Tour statistic: since 2016, the winner of the first event failed to clinch another victory that season. Determined to break this “weird stat,” Henderson sees the Tour Championship as an opportune moment to bookend her season with victories at both ends, enhancing her overall performance and confidence.

The Tour Championship, featuring the top 60 golfers in the Race to CME Globe, boasts the largest purse in women’s golf at $7 million. Looking ahead, CME Group and the LPGA Tour have announced an increase to $11 million for the next year, with the winner set to receive an impressive $4 million. While several awards and titles are up for grabs, Henderson remains focused on concluding the season on a high note, emphasizing the significance of the event and expressing excitement for the challenging competition ahead.