AMAZINGCRE PORTLAND CLASSIC

September 15, 2022

Brooke Henderson

Columbia Edgewater Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Okay, here with Brooke Henderson after her first round at the AmazingCre Portland Classic. You got off to a really hot start today. Two birdies right off the bat. What did you do before the round to prepare mentally, physically, just to have that hot start?

BROOKE HENDERSON: You know, I love this golf course. I have so many great memories here, so I was just trying to get off to a fast start.

I knew looking at the leaderboard everybody was going pretty low so I had some work to do to try to catch up; I still have some work to do to catch up.

But it was nice to make a bunch of birdies today, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the week.

Q. Anything unexpected out there from the practice rounds or looking different at all?

BROOKE HENDERSON: It played quite a bit firmer and faster than it did the last few days. I think the sun was out today and it was just burning up a little bit, so we had to pay attention to some of the releases and things.

But like I said, I just love this course and so I'm excited to be playing here again.

Q. Yeah, I know going all the way back to like 2015 when you won -- was it '14 or '15 that you won for the first time? I think it was '15 you won for the first time as a rookie. Like not even as is rookie, as a nonmember. Just looking back, does anything about this course like remind you, bring back those memories?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, you know, I Monday qualified that week and then was able to be in the field. Just had a super hot start and kept it going all week.

So it was really cool, and obviously it started my whole career out here. My first win, it allowed me to become a member of tour, which was a dream of mine since I was little.

Yeah, I love this place. Hopefully just lots more birdies the next few days.

Q. This might be a hard question, but how do you think you've changed or grown the most since way back when?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, I was 17 and now I'm 25, so I just feel like I've matured a lot physically and mentally. I've just grown a lot, which I think is good.

It's been a lot of fun these last eight years I guess out here. Hopefully have a lot more years ahead of me, and hopefully I can be in contention and hoist a few more trophies.

Q. Last question: Shout out the Canadian media here. You said this course is a little similar to those in Canada. In what ways and how does it feel to be playing in similarities like that?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, one of the courses I grew up on the back nine is pretty tight, so out here every hole is really tight. You have to hit the fairways.

Just similar grasses, similar temperature, weather, so lots of things remind me of back home, which is a great feeling. Yeah, just a lot of good memories from back home and a lot of good memories just from playing here.