One of Brooke Henderson’s objectives heading into the newly minted LPGA season was to get herself into rivalry extra typically. The Canadian is off to a powerful begin, constructing a four-shot lead Friday within the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Playing alongside Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, who’s competing within the superstar division, the Smiths Falls, Ont., native 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 in Orlando, Fla.
The different 28 LPGA professionals within the winners-only area swiftly entered into scramble mode simply to maintain from shedding sight of her. Henderson’s closest pursuers going into the third spherical are Nelly Korda — at No. 2 the top-ranked participant within the area — England’s Charley Hull and Wei-Ling Hsu of Taiwan. They every shot 69.
WATCH | Henderson carries 4-stroke lead into weekend:
Brooke Henderson carries 4-stroke lead into the weekend at Tournament of Champions
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a 6-under 66 within the second spherical of the LPGA’s Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Fla., to sit down at 11-under total.
Henderson was sensational at first, hitting a few wedges near tight gap places 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 keep in mind it perpetually,” mentioned Henderson, who has made just one bogey in 36 holes. “Just a kind of alternatives of a lifetime. We all look as much as her out right here on tour. She’s variety and clearly an amazing participant, and I feel we will all study rather a lot from her.”
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 follow in Morocco to organize, mentioned her swing was out of types, and labored onerous to provide a rating under 70. A 3-putt bogey on the ultimate gap left her with a spherical of 69, alongside Hsu, 5 photographs behind Henderson.
“Obviously, 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 mentioned. “Yeah, I used to be considering at the moment the Americans undoubtedly have an enormous 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 navy veteran Chad Pfeifer. Fish and Korda started their day within the wee darkish hours, each rising early to observe Sebastian Korda — Nelly’s brother — win his match on the Australian Open.
WATCH | Henderson leads after 1st spherical:
Brooke Henderson leads season-opening Tournament of Champions
Brooke Henderson carded a 5-under 67 to take a one-shot lead after the primary spherical of the LPGA season-opening Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Fla.
