WOMEN'S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

August 6, 2024

Brooke Henderson

Alena Sharp

Le Golf National

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We welcome Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp for the 2024 Paris Olympics Women's Golf Competition.

You've seen the golf course this morning. What are your first impressions being here at Le Golf National?

BROOKE HENDERSON: It's definitely a beautiful golf course and looked scorable. The first couple rounds seemed scorable and I was excited watching the men go so low. But this afternoon it was starting to firm up and got windy. It was difficult playing differently than the first two days. But we'll just see what tomorrow brings and the condition that it brings.

But it's very exciting to have the opportunity to play such a beautiful golf course here on Sunday watching the men's final round, the energy and atmosphere was electric. Hopefully it will be similar for us.

THE MODERATOR: What was your impression?

ALENA SHARP: Unbelievable to see so many people watching the men. It was hard to watch Corey finish his round and then the golf course is amazing. I think for us, it's great. Kind of comparison to Calgary. We play narrow fairways with rough and that's kind of what we've got here. Very much the same. You have to drive it well and take advantage when you have a wedge in your happened because definitely it's firming up and hard to stop on the greens.

THE MODERATOR: You're a team that's played together in the two past Olympic golf competitions. How does that familiarity help with the competition?

ALENA SHARP: I think it's nice to be with your friend. You know, bounce ideas atmosphere off each other. We are so easygoing and good teammates that way. Brit and Sarah talk about the course together and share ideas. It's been a good friendship and a good partnership.

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, ALENA has always been a great mentor to me so it's really special to compete in three Olympic Games together and represent Team Canada because we are both very proud to be from Canada.

Q. I remember when you got to Pinehurst in '14, but seeing somebody compete on the very course that you're going to be at the next week, what does that do for your excitement level -- fear?

BROOKE HENDERSON: It was really cool to get a chance to watch a little bit of the men finish up on Sunday and see the atmosphere and see how many people here, it was amazing. Just getting to talk to Corey and Nick after they finished and talk about how the week went and some things that they noticed was really nice.

It's cool to see how the men played the course. I mean, there's definitely things that the women will have to play differently. Just play to our strengths a little bit more, where the men, they can probably hit it over the rough and still hit pretty great shots and hole the greens, where we have to be a little more strategic and I think fairways will be probably be a little more important for us?

Q. What did you think ever the closing stretch? Seems like a dramatic finish.

BROOKE HENDERSON: It's an interesting finish. I feel like there's going to be a lot of movement which makes it fun and challenging as well. You've got to keep your head on straight because I think you'll have to really think your way around.

ALENA SHARP: I agree. It's intimidating. Obviously with the crowd there it will make it more exciting, but if you have a good game plan and hit it on the fairway in 17 and 18, obviously hitting in the fairway is huge, but the shot in aren't terribly difficult.

Like I said earlier, it's trying to hit that fairway and give yourself the best opportunity to make a good score.

Q. I'm wondering if you can tell me a little bit about how your' Bronze in multi sports helps you in Paris --

ALENA SHARP: I think being in contention with nine holes to go and knowing I could finish, I could maybe get a medal. And being in that pressure situation, I can still remember it because it was only in November and I feel like that's going to help me. I feel like this time that the other two Games -- like Rio I was feeling good about my game. Tokyo, not so good.

This week, I feel like coming here, I could actually win now. Tokyo, I didn't think that. I wasn't coming to -- not participate, but do my best. The last two weeks playing before here were really solid. I had two really good finishes and coming into my stride at the right time. I feel like I'm more confident as the week goes on and had good prep. So ready to get started.

Q. You have a really cool experience with your wife on the bag this week. How cool to share it with her?

ALENA SHARP: Yeah, it's been nice to have Sarah back on the bag. I feel more relaxed. Obviously this is a pressure situation. Kind of this might be my last Olympics. So I'm happy that she's on my bag and I get to share this experience with her.

Q. Both of you had solid finishes at your National Open. How does that get you ready for a week like this?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Absolutely, it's a huge week for both of us and all of the Canadians in the field. It's so much fun to play at home. There's so much energy and excitement and adrenaline and we get to wear red and white. I try to wear it as much as I can on the weekend.

It's just so cool to have a chance to play in front of the hometown crowd, and I feel like it was great prep coming into this week, not only with our wardrobe, the red and white, but also just with the people. Having that much support and love, and knowing that they are all behind us. You know, when I was playing the Women's Open, everyone was like, "Go for Gold." Even though I was playing that event, they were cheering me on already for this one. It was pretty cool.

ALENA SHARP: I feel the same way. I saw the crowds watching Brooke there and I saw the crowds watching Corey finish up and I was really impressed. I've heard that we have wig crowds this week and there's a sellout. That's going to be really exciting for us. I think it was great send-off for Brooke and I to be able to play at the Canadian Open and come here. It's been an awesome two weeks.

Q. Both of you having played in the two previous Olympics -- how has golf in the Olympics evolved, and for you two personally, how has it involved?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Rio was really fun, for me and I think for both of us it was a really great week. It was the first Olympic Games that golf was involved. It was really cool just to be part of the whole experience and learning the ins and outs of everything in the Olympics, which was pretty cool.

Tokyo was a very different experience with no fans and very secluded and just went to the hotel and to the course. It's fun to be at a Games where there's so many people and there's so much excitement surrounding it. I feel like so far it has been the best one, yeah.

ALENA SHARP: I feel the same way. The crowds are to go to be crazy, and I think in Rio, golf, it was the first year back. Seeing the crowds on Sunday, knowing they are going to be out for us, too, it's pretty cool. It's the first Olympics that we are going to have that and I think it's going to be a lot of fun and for all of the players in the field.

I feel like women's golf has gotten so much stronger since Rio and the competition, it's tough to make the Olympic team, and I think that the competition this week is going to be good.

Q. Could you take me back to when you first became friends and how that connection has blossomed over the years and helped you at national event like this.

ALENA SHARP: I remember the first time I played with Brooke, she had a hole-in-one. I said, hey, when you become of age, you owe me a drink.

It was ever since then. She was trying to make it on the Tour, like playing Monday qualifying and gave her some tips on some of the courses because she didn't get to play a practice round. And from there, obviously she's had an amazing start to her career. Got her win in Portland to be able to be a member. From there, it's just been -- we just have developed a great friendship. I don't know how many years it's been but I feel like it's been more than I know.

BROOKE HENDERSON: It's been a long time. And Sarah and Alena have been great friend to us and helped us out a lot, especially early on in my career. Especially the support you showed early on was phenomenal and playing practise rounds together. It's been really special to build on a friendship and like I said to be competing in our third Olympic Games together and representing the country that we love is pretty cool.

Q. Question for both based on Brooke's answer a minute ago. Did you enjoy the Tokyo Games? You mentioned your game where you wanted it. Do you look back on that? Have any positive memories of that very quiet Olympics?

ALENA SHARP: I mean, obviously playing for Canada is a positive experience. For me personally, I was kind of going down -- I wasn't in a great space mentally. Like I just was not playing well. I was struggling with my putting. It was just the whole year was just so tough. Even after the Games, I remember I changed my flight home and took two weeks off just because I needed a break.

I look back on that and disappointed that I wasn't more grateful to be there. Still, you're representing your country and playing in an amazing tournament that everyone want to be in.

Yeah, overall, I still loved going to Tokyo. It's was just different because we were so secluded, no fans, not allowed to go to other events. It didn't feel like -- the team camaraderie didn't feel the same as it does here where you're able to go watch the other teams compete or go to the Canada Olympic house or the Village and all of those things that go with being in the Olympics.

BROOKE HENDERSON: I think, too, as golfers, any place we play really well, we love that place, and any place you don't play very well, you don't have the fondest memories. But it could have nothing to do with outside factors and maybe just how you played, which I feel like is maybe is not a great approach but most golfers play that way. I didn't play well in Tokyo and it wasn't necessarily my favourite Games. But like Alena said, any time you have the opportunity to represent your country and to be an Olympian and to be a part of the Games is really special.

Q. When we talk golf and Canada, it invariably goes back to Presidents Cup. Do you think in your lifetime, career lifetime, that you'll ever have a chance to play a competition similar to the Solheim Cup?

BROOKE HENDERSON: I would love to have the opportunity on the women's side to play an event similar to The Presidents Cup or the Solheim Cup, Ryder Cup. That would be really fun. I think it would be great.

We do have our International Crown but I think the Tour deserves maybe another event very similar to The Presidents Cup where you have the opportunity to compete. Same with Lydia, right now she can't compete anywhere. I think that would be a great opportunity.

As for this year, the Presidents Cup, I'm really excited it's being held in Canada at Royal Montreal. That's really cool. I'm not sure if I will be there or not but if I do go, I'm sure I'll have a great time.

THE MODERATOR: Have you been to any other events in the short I'm you've been here? What have you taken the most interest in?

ALENA SHARP: I've been watching the Olympics every night, whether it's on my iPad, the U.S. feed or the French feed. So I've had both screens on. I went the beach volley on Saturday morning. We got tickets right away once I found out I was on the team. Our team leader, Emily told us if you want to go somewhere, you'd better let us know now because everything was selling out.

I didn't get to see a Canadian team play but it was still fun to watch four matches.

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, I saw the men's golf which was really cool but other than that I haven't seen anything yet but hopefully later in the week I'll be able to see something. Also I think both of us are going to go to the Closing Ceremonies..

Q. Did you actually see anything on Sunday?

BROOKE HENDERSON: It was very difficult. But we tried to squeeze in and see a few things.