It had to be her. Canadian Brooke Henderson had a grind of a week at the CPKC Women’s Open and took the tournament title for her first win in over two years.
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Welcome back to Golf Thursday, everyone.
Brooke Henderson looked surprised when she was told during her post-win TV interview that she’s the first person since 1914 to win their national championship twice. But as it sank in, she could only express the joy and love she has for representing her country.
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“Yeah, I’m surprised I’m not crying because I definitely thought I was going to during this interview,” Henderson said during that TV interview Sunday. “My family support and everything, and Canada has been so supportive of me as well. I feel like Canada needed a win this year, so I’m really happy to bring them one.”
The 27-year-old from Smith Falls, Ontario, certainly brought satisfaction to her province and country with her 14th career LPGA Tour victory. Henderson shot a final-round 67 (-4) to win the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open by one stroke over Minjee Lee. It was nearly match play as the final pairing came down the stretch.
“I mean, Minjee, I love playing with Minjee. She’s a great friend, and she is a really tough competitor. I knew today was going to be really tough playing with her,” Henderson said of the final round pairing with the Australian. “She also has an amazing presence on the course that was really calming and relaxing, so I feel like it was a great pairing for me to have that kind of peace and calmness.”
The whole tournament was a battle for Henderson, so it’s nice that she was able to enjoy her final-round pairing. After carding an even-par 71 in the first round, Henderson was looking up at the leaderboard to see Akie Iwai’s 64 (-7), and it was like looking up at Mount Everest. For Lee, the climb was not as steep; she shot a first-round 69 to sit five back of Iwai.
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Then, Lee saw herself come into a tie for second place with a 4-under-par 67 on Friday’s second round. Henderson would do her one better, though, shooting a 66 (-5) to climb into a tie for fifth place.
Both Lee and Henderson had colorful Saturday third rounds; Lee posted two eagles, two birdies and a lone bogey to shoot a 5-under 66, and Henderson carded an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys to shoot a 6-under 65. The Canadian’s score was the best across the field for the third round. Lee and Henderson found themselves tied at the top of the leaderboard at 11-under-par going into Sunday’s final round.
Lee and Henderson were neck and neck throughout the last 18 holes of the tournament. They started the day with identical scores on the first four holes, carding birdies on No. 2 to get to 12-under and bogeys on No. 4 to drop back to 11-under. Henderson took the edge with a birdie on the par-5 fifth hole to go one shot ahead of Lee, but Lee came back with a birdie of her own on the par-4 eighth. Both players went out on the front nine with a 34. It was as close as close gets.
“The rest of the day felt like we were just back and forth most of the time,” Henderson said.
And back and forth they went. Each player had to match the intense energy the other was giving off at any moment. Lee slipped up, dropping a shot on No. 11 but quickly regained her footing with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 12 and 13. Henderson matched Lee’s birdie on No. 13 and then birdied the next, the par-3 14th. It was coming down to the last few chances for Lee to pull away and the last few holes Henderson had to secure.
“When she made that putt on 17, it was like I was really impressed. Part of me knew she was probably going to make it and knew I had to make that putt either way.”
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Lee birdied No. 17, putting herself one step closer to a playoff, which would have been fitting for the way these two played all week. But Henderson dug deep and kept herself out of the pressure by sinking the putt on top of Lee’s for a birdie of her own. Pars on the 18th settled it, and Henderson was crowned champion by one small stroke.
“I knew at any time she [Lee] could go on a run, so I was just trying to stay a little bit ahead,” Henderson said.
With this win, Henderson also became the first woman to win her national championship twice.
“I think this was a huge win for Canada and Canadian golf, so I’m really proud to be able to hoist this trophy again,” Henderson said.
The LPGA Tour is back in action Aug. 28–31 at the FM Championship at TPC Boston. See you next week, golf fans.
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Five at The IX: Snippets from Brooke Henderson’s post-win press conference at the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open
THE MODERATOR: All right, we will kick things off here. Hello and welcome to the media center at the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open. Joined by 2025 champion Brooke Henderson. I’ll ask a couple questions, and then we’ll open it up here in the media center and then move to the Zoom.
Q. Can we just open up by starting to ask you what did this mean, this week as a whole?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, this week was beyond special. To be able to finish it off and hoist the trophy again is extremely cool. It feels super surreal still. When I won in 2018, I woke up Monday morning thinking I still had to play the final round, so I’m wondering if that nightmare will happen again tomorrow.
It was such a meaningful week. The crowds were phenomenal. To be able to play so well in front of them really means a lot to me, too, and I just am so grateful for all their support.
Q. I just watched you on the trophy ceremony. The National Anthem was playing; family and friends were around you; fans were looking on. Could you describe that moment and when it felt like?
BROOKE HENDERSON: For sure, to see the Canadian flags up and hear the National Anthem, to be able to sing the National Anthem after winning my national Open is just so cool. Like I said, surreal.
It’s been an amazing week. This year has not gone very well up to this point, and it just feels like this was meant to be. I felt like I got a lot of breaks out there today and this week, and I just felt like, yeah, it was meant to be.
I’m just so happy this I can finally hold this trophy again.
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Q. How does this compare to your other 13 victories?
BROOKE HENDERSON: This one, I think, might be the longest in between victories, so for that reason, it makes it super special. To be able to win the Canadian Open, the CPKC Women’s Open for the second time is so special.
So it’s like right up there near the top. I’ve always said that the 2018 win here was like a huge career highlight, and so to be able to do it again is such a bonus and definitely a huge career highlight again.
Q. How will you celebrate?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Honestly, I don’t know, but it’s like so cool that I was able to celebrate with thousands of fans and family and friends. I’m just like super excited that this actually happened. It’s like a dream come true again, and I mean, I don’t know what I’m doing next, but I might have a pop. I haven’t had pop in like years.
I might have one. (Laughter.)
Q. Brooke, was there any time along this period where you haven’t won and hadn’t played all that great where you fell into doubt?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Absolutely. I think it’s — I think any person would have. I mean, I definitely did. There were some dark times for sure. I feel like my family was so supportive and just said to like keep going, just keep working hard, it’ll come around.
Like I’ve been telling everybody for like a long time, it’s close, it’s close, it’s close. To finally break through again is just so exciting. I’m excited for the rest of the season. I’m excited for what’s coming next. I’m super pumped International Crown, and with this win, I think I’ll guarantee my spot into the CME, which was a little bit in jeopardy before this. So that’s super exciting as well.
And I mean, I’m just grateful. I thank God for allowing me to be back in this position, the strength and the courage to be able to perform at the top level again, and just everything that He has blessed me with.
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