BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 24, 2023

Brooke Henderson

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

BROOKE HENDERSON:

Q. All right, here with Brooke Henderson. A 3 & 2 victory today; your first win in match play. We haven't seen you here in Vegas since 2021. How nice is it to start the week with a win like this today?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, definitely was a hard-fought battle out there, so it was nice to get the victory. Looking forward to the next two matches and hopefully do something similar and play my way into the weekend.

Q. What's it like gearing up for this match play event? I know there is not a lot of opportunities that we see you at match play events. What's it like gearing up for this week?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, there is not a lot of match play opportunities. I've only played maybe four times on the LPGA Tour. That's a long time over my career.

But, you know, it's a lot different game, match play, than stroke play. Mentally it challenges you in different ways. Just trying to learn as we go and continue to grow as a player in the match play conditions I think is important over the rest of the week.

Q. What's it been like getting used to or more comfortable on Shadow Creek?

BROOKE HENDERSON: This is a really tough golf course. Sometimes par is good and you're going to win with par. Sometimes you have to remind yourself of that, because sometimes the holes will really sneak up and bite you if you're not paying attention.

Q. I know it's a small sample size, but you haven't had a lot of luck out here in the past. Is that an aspect of the course being difficult or just an off week or...

BROOKE HENDERSON: I think probably a little bit of both. I wasn't playing my best back in 2021 around this time, so that was a little bit of a factor.

You know, also I think coming here second the time and learning the course a little bit better has definitely been very beneficial.

I think the more times I play it over the next few days I'll get more and more comfortable and learn how to play it a little bit better.

So, yeah, just trying to learn all the time and get used to this tricky golf course.

Q. So are you feeling any extra pressure at all with so many of the top girls not playing this week? Kind of the focus is on you and Lilia.

BROOKE HENDERSON: You know, not too much. All these players out here can really play. Doesn't matter really where you're ranked. In match play it doesn't matter.

Even week to week all the girls are so talented that you really have to go out and play your best if you want to be near the top or compete at a high level.

So just trying to play my game as much as I can. That's a very stroke play answer, but I feel like trying to do that and then just remember that it's match play and play to those strengths as well.

Q. How difficult is it to get in a match play mindset considering you don't get to play Solheim Cup and Canada hasn't qualified for the International Crown?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, it was unfortunate that Canada, we've kind of been left out of quite a few events there. I enjoy the challenge of match play and it is so different, and I think that's kind of what makes it fun.

Like I said, hopefully I can just learn a few more things this year and take it forward so when I come back next year I'm even more comfortable.

Q. One more from me just real quick. Vegas is a very interesting and exciting city. Are you and your sister thinking of taking in any of the shows? I know MGM provides that for you guys, but didn't know if there is anything off the course that's exciting for you.

BROOKE HENDERSON: We haven't signed up for anything yet, but maybe as the week goes on we'll be more interested.

If you want to do anything here, you can pretty much do it which is pretty cool opportunity.