SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ACER

June 7, 2023

Brooke Henderson

Seaview, A Dolce Hotel

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome back inside the media center here to the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer.

I am pleased to be joined by the defending champion, Brooke Henderson.

I want to take us back to last year in this moment. What were some of the emotions you had going back a year ago to what this tournament was able to provide to you and your career?

BROOKE HENDERSON: You know, last year was such an exciting finish. To go so low on Sunday and really climb the leaderboard, that was so much fun.

Then to get myself into a playoff, that was kind of the goal at the start of the day, to go as low as I could and see if I could have a chance to win. To get into the playoff I was really grateful and looking forward to it.

Was able to make an eagle, which made it very exciting with all the fans surrounding the green. To get my 11th victory on Tour was very meaningful. I think I've been coming here a long time. I love this event. It has such a long list of incredible past champions, so I was really excited to be able to add my name to that list.

THE MODERATOR: We talked a little about it outside, just me and you, but you have such a connection to this area and this tournament. Just in your mind when you think about your journey and career, where does this tournament stand in that?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, you know, this event, ShopRite, they've always been very good to me. They gave me a sponsor's invite back in 2015 when I was a really young pro. You know, that just meant so much to me, to give me a start on the LPGA Tour.

So to win here last year, it meant a lot. I've made great friends here. Our whole family has. It's been a great event to come back to year after year, and I look forward to teeing it up this year and hopefully have another solid three rounds.

THE MODERATOR: I think one of my favorite memories was you had the trophy and you refused to let it go. You refused to let anyone carry it. You said, I don't want to let this one go. I remember it was quite a bit since you had won when you won here. What did it feel like to have that? What was the relief like to get at that 11th victory on Tour?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, you work so hard to hold that trophy that you don't want to let it go. You want to keep it close. You don't know what the next one is coming either. There is so much talent out here and you need breaks to win and a lot of things to go your way.

When it does finally happen it's a huge sense of relief, and it really just puts a huge smile on your face and makes you just want to keep doing it.

Hopefully I would love the opportunity to be in a good position Sunday and to have a chance to hoist that trophy again.

THE MODERATOR: Before I open up to the room, you already have a win on the books the year. You opened the season off with a splash. We're now into June and about to go into a summer swing of an incredible amount of golf. What do you take from the last couple months as you prepare for what the summer has it bring?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, to get the win at the very start of the year was exciting. It was a dream start to the 2023 season. It's been up and down since, but this is where the really big events start happening with four majors left, and one in just two weeks from now.

There is a long stretch of events, so I'm just hopefully going to ride some momentum and shoot some low scores and see if I can put myself in contention.

I love competing in those final rounds in the final groups near the top of the leaderboard and kind of fighting for every shot and trying to go low, so I'm really excited for what the rest of the season holds.

Q. You've had success defending at other tournaments. It's not easy to defend. Only one golfer has won back-to-back here in 30 years. What's the key to defending your title?

BROOKE HENDERSON: It's really a lot of fun when you come in to a venue that you're defending champion. There is just a higher sense of energy and you see your face on different posters and pamphlets and it's just really fun.

I think that kind of energy is a good way to start the week. Gets you in the right place. Obviously you have a good strategy of how to play the golf course having won the previous year, so that's all a little bit of a confidence booster.

But then you got to go out and shoot low scores.

So as I mentioned before, it's so talented out here and difficult to win, and harder back to back, but just try to lean into the strategy that we have, the energy that is provided returning here, and try to go out and go as low as you can.

Q. How do you balance that good energy I guess with some of the distractions or demands that come on you when you're the defending champion? I guess you have to do stuff in the defending champion week that in another week you wouldn't have to basically.

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, definitely is a little bit extra. Most of the time you're trying to be really well balanced and even keel, but I feel like in these types of weeks that high energy is a good way to start out.

As long as you can still get the proper amount of rest and practice in, having that high energy will hopefully provide a little more birdies and help you make a few more putts.

Q. Again, coming back here, we talked about your incredible success and why you love coming back to this tournament. Why is it specifically you like most about the Bay Course?

BROOKE HENDERSON: It's a challenging course. Really depends on the conditions. It can get very windy out here, so you have to be a bit of a shot maker and stay patient when things aren't going perfectly, and take advantages when the opportunities present themselves to make birdies or to make eagles.

There is a couple par-5s that you can reach in two, so it gives you a little bit of an advantage there if you can capitalize on that. I think just the challenge of it is really fun.

Hopefully we can just go out -- my team is here, coach is here, sister, caddie, of course is here as well, so it's been fun working with them over the past few days and making sure we have a perfect strategy and hopefully we can execute.

Q. Have you changed even anything coming off Mizuho?

BROOKE HENDERSON: I think just overall consistency and just trying to make small gains all the time, trying to get a little bit better.

Like I mentioned before, it's been an up and down year, so trying to make sure that I'm in the right place mentally, physically, and emotionally and just trying to get a little better all the time.

THE MODERATOR: Last one from me before we wrap up here: We've got a lot of events coming up, some amazing courses. We know we'll see you next week also at a place you love so much. We'll be back in Jersey for KPMG. What are kind of the secrets to your success of staying not only in the moment, but just physically and mentally knowing there is an onslaught of events awaiting you?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, it's a busy schedule. I'm in the middle of a five-week stretch before I take a break. It's been fun. I feel like my game is improving and getting the game where I need it to be, and especially with the big events coming up and Meijer where I won before is always a really fun week to return to.

So just trying to get the game rolling here, and hopefully we'll have a great rest of the summer.

THE MODERATOR: Going from this kind of tournament where you're defending, going to Meijer where you also have done very well, how does that lend itself knowing KPMG is on the horizon to be going to these courses where you constantly feel you're improving in your game along the way?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, definitely helps to come to places where you have great memories and you've had great results, including here and Meijer and KPMG for me.

These next three weeks are just a lot of fun. As I mentioned before, it's kind of cool to see your picture around. Just a little bit extra boost. So just try to keep the momentum going.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much, Brooke.

BROOKE HENDERSON: Thank you.

Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...