Canada’s Brooke Henderson begins sizzling, takes four-shot lead at LPGA opener
ORLANDO, Fla. — Considered one of Brooke Henderson’s targets heading into the newly minted LPGA season was to get herself into competition extra typically.
The Canadian is off to a powerful begin, constructing a four-shot lead Friday within the Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions.
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Taking part in alongside Corridor of Famer Annika Sorenstam, who’s competing within the celeb division, Henderson ran off 4 birdies starting on the second gap, was 9-under par by the point she stepped onto the sixth tee and performed mistake-free for a 6-under 66 at Lake Nona.
The opposite 28 LPGA professionals within the winners-only discipline swiftly entered into scramble mode simply to maintain from dropping sight of her.
Henderson’s closest pursuers going into the third spherical are Nelly Korda — at No. 2 the top-ranked participant within the discipline — England’s Charley Hull and Wei-Ling Hsu of Taiwan. They every shot 69.
Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., was sensational initially, hitting a few wedges near tight gap areas to arrange two of her early birdies, and practically holing a 6-iron for ace on the 171-yard fourth gap. Making the beginning further particular was taking part in with Sorenstam for the primary time.
“I really feel like I’ll bear in mind it endlessly,” stated Henderson, who has made just one bogey in 36 holes. “Simply a type of alternatives of a lifetime. All of us look as much as her out right here on tour. She’s sort and clearly an important participant, and I feel we will all be taught quite a bit from her.”
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Korda headed off after the spherical to work on her placing after lacking a number of beauty on the entrance 9 — although she did have 4 birdies after the tenth gap.
Hull, in the meantime, who fled the chilly climate of England for 3 days of apply in Morocco to organize, stated her swing was out of types, and labored onerous to supply a rating under 70. A 3-putt bogey on the ultimate gap left her with a spherical of 69, alongside Hsu, 5 pictures behind Henderson.
“Clearly, I’ve been taking part in within the frost, so it bounces miles. Our greens are thick. These greens are so quick in comparison with what I’m used to taking part in on,” Hull stated. “Yeah, I used to be pondering in the present day the People positively have a large benefit — however I like England an excessive amount of to maneuver anyplace else.”
Hsu, who obtained right here by profitable the 2021 Pure Silk Championship, made six birdies however none after the thirteenth gap, finishing her 69 with 5 pars.
Tennis participant and Davis Cup captain Mardy Fish took management among the many celebrities and athletes, posting the equal of a 67 within the Modified Stableford scoring system.
He has 78 factors, 9 factors higher than Sorenstam, a Lake Nona resident, and army veteran Chad Pfeifer. Fish and Korda started their day within the wee darkish hours, each rising early to look at Sebastian Korda — Nelly’s brother — win his match on the Australian Open.
