Brooke Henderson made the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time in three years after a rough start on Friday at Riviera Country Club, rallying to a 2-under 69 and sitting four shots back heading into the weekend. Despite missing the cut in 2024 and 2
Brooke Henderson walked into Friday knowing she couldn’t afford to keep slipping. On the par-4 10th at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, she did slip—dropping a double bogey after hitting a screamer out of the greenside bunker back down the fairway.
But the comeback didn’t wait. Henderson chipped in for birdie on No. 14, then rolled into a stretch where she “added three more coming in” to finish with a 2-under 69. It was the kind of swing that changes how a weekend feels, because she’ll enter the weekend just four shots back of the lead.
The rally mattered even more because Henderson’s last two U.S. Women’s Open appearances ended without a weekend. She missed the cut in both 2024 and 2025. Before that, she had three top-15 finishes in a row, though she hasn’t recorded a top-10 finish at this major in five years.
On Thursday, the frustration had already been real. Henderson four-putted her second-last hole, then chipped in for birdie to salvage a 2-over 73. This time, she connected the dots between those two saves and what they did for her scorecard and her confidence.
“Gave me that break to change the momentum and bounce back. I feel like today I started rough, but I was able to chip in on 14 and then make a bunch of birdies after that,” Henderson said. “The birdie chips on Thursday and Friday helped make a huge difference on the scorecard and the leaderboard.”
Through 36 holes, Henderson sits tied for 18th as conditions have tightened. The numbers point to why the cut is just the beginning: history is on her side, with 21 of the last 22 major winners on the LPGA Tour within five of the lead through 36 holes.
Right now, the leaderboard is headed by Alison Lee of the U.S. and Ruoning Yin of China on 4 under. Six golfers are a shot back, including overnight leader Jennifer Kupcho.
Henderson’s week has also shown a familiar tension in her game. She’s been spectacular with the driver so far this week—fifth in strokes gained: off the tee—but she’s essentially last in strokes gained: approach. She’s also hit about half her greens in regulation so far. It’s a microcosm of her season to this point.
She opened the year with a third-place finish at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. but has had just one other top-25 finish since. And on the bag, the personal stakes have been part of the storyline. Henderson has had to navigate life without her sister Brittany Henderson—her caddie for more than a decade—while Brittany is expecting her first child in just a few weeks. In May, Henderson returned to having a family member on her bag, leaning on her cousin Ryan Henderson.
“I’m really excited he’s been on the bag, and I feel like we make a great team. I’m just excited for a few more events this summer,” Henderson said. “I’m really excited to be playing this weekend.”
Henderson won’t be the only Canadian chasing Sunday at Riviera. Teen Aphrodite Deng, making her U.S. Women’s Open debut, will also head into the weekend after posting a 2-over 73 on Friday. Deng, 16, made three birdies and five bogeys on the day.
Others from Canada saw their weeks end sooner. Anna Huang finished at 6 over and Lauren Kim finished at 11 over, and both missed the cut.
Brooke Henderson U.S. Women’s Open Riviera Country Club Nelly Korda Alison Lee Ruoning Yin Jennifer Kupcho Aphrodite Deng LPGA Canada golf