FORD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY WILD HORSE PASS

March 27, 2025

Brooke Henderson

Whirlwind Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Okay, here with Brooke after her opening round at the Ford Championship. Several birdies, an eagle on the scorecard today. Can you just talk about what stood out with some of those holes.

BROOKE HENDERSON: For sure. You know, to eagle my third hole of the day was definitely the start that I was looking for. Kind of gave me that extra boost and a little bit of confidence for the rest of the round, which was great.

To play the front nine at minus-5 was exciting to make the turn, and was able to get two birdies on the back to finish off at 7-under. I see Charley was really ripping it up out there, so I'll try to go out and catch her tomorrow.

It was a lot of fun. The course is in great shape. It just felt really good and nice to make a bunch of birdies, have an eagle, and just kind of get under par.

Q. And I was going to ask you, what about this course do you really like? There seems to be a lot of birdies out there; do you enjoy that?

BROOKE HENDERSON: I think this morning the conditions were very scorable. There wasn't too much wind. It was perfect temperature. So I think a lot of people were able to take advantage this morning, and I'm glad I was one of them.

I think over the weekend it's supposed to be a little bit cooler which might be nice, and maybe a little bit windier as well, so just have to judge the conditions.

Like I said, the course is in great shape and I feel like the greens are rolling really nice, so hopefully just more birdies in the future.

Q. And I was going to ask one more. Last time I saw you we were in Asia. What have you been up to since then maybe inside and outside of the golf?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, so three weeks and I was in Florida. It was really nice. Was able to see some friends and went to a spring training game in Fort Myers, so that was really fun.

But it's just been a great three weeks, and I feel like I've been able to improve the game and just my overall mindset. That was a big thing that I was looking for going into this stretch, was just to have a better mindset coming back out here.

Q. Also seen a couple pictures of bobble heads of you, too --

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yes.

Q. -- from your hockey days.

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah.

Q. Been fun, too, to go to those games and see that?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, for sure. That was super cool to have a bobble head made and have it be an Ottawa Senators bobble head was even cooler.

I was super excited about it, and I think it was a great turnout that night.

Q. You talk about Charley ripping it up. You rip your driver. Have you had to dial it back a little bit, maybe hit more 3-woods, hybrids off the tee? What's that strategy been like for you this week?

BROOKE HENDERSON: For sure. Yeah, there are some holes out here you have to think and be strategic. It's not always driver, or if you want to be really aggressive you can.

So you have to think your way around, which I think is cool. I think when things are going well I was able to hit driver quite a bit today but a few holes laid up.

Yeah, just try to be smart and aggressive when you can.

Q. Obviously playing a lot of golf in Florida just living there. Is it an adjustment to come out to this heat and have the ball fly 10, 15 years farther, and how do you make that switch?

BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, for sure. The heat and the elevation and no humidity is a big change. Florida is a very humid.

It's definitely a big change, but I love playing out here in the desert. I always have a lot fans, which always makes it really fun for me.

And I'm just excited to be back.

Q. Heading into the rest of the week, what do you take from a really solid first round and the next three as you look ahead?

BROOKE HENDERSON: You know, I'm excited. I haven't really got off to a fast start in a long time. I feel like this is a really cool spot to be in. Hopefully go out tomorrow and make some more birdies and climb up the leaderboard a little bit more.

You know, I'm excited with how today went and just hopefully just doing more of the same over the next three days.