Henderson slips late at Women’s PGA, hopeful

Brooke Henderson finished tied for third at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after rain delayed the final round, leaving Haeran Ryu to win her first major. Henderson said she feels “back in better form” and is carrying momentum into the rest of a majors-heavy

Hazeltine National Golf Club didn’t just delay the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship — it changed the rhythm of the day. Rain pushed the start back by three-and-a-half hours, and Brooke Henderson, who was in the final group on Sunday, didn’t tee off until almost 2 p.m. ET.

When the action finally got going, Haeran Ryu and Ina Yoon looked like the ones who might set the pace. But Henderson was steady early, while the top group had its own moments of trouble. Ryu was 2 over through five holes. Yoon started with two straight birdies, then gave them back with a double bogey on the par-5 3rd. Yoon was 1 over through six, and Henderson had the lead alone.

The Canadian made her move on the front half. Henderson finally got her first birdie of the day on the par-4 9th and followed it with another from 13 feet on No. 10. Through that stretch, it looked like she might keep pressing.

Then the week’s story tightened. Henderson made a tough bogey on No. 14. and while she was essentially the best in the field in key statistical areas — strokes gained: tee to green and seventh in strokes gained: approach the green — the closing holes wouldn’t turn into a birdie feast. From inside 21 feet through the rest of her back nine, she didn’t give herself any birdie attempts. Statistically, Sunday was her worst ball-striking day, losing almost half a shot to the field tee-to-green.

Still, her result mattered. Henderson finished tied for third at 10 under for the week, one shot behind Haeran Ryu, who took her first major title at 13 under. Ryu topped Ina Yoon by two shots, and Henderson and Dewi Weber were another shot back at 10 under.

Ryu’s climb became the defining contrast of the championship. She was 10 shots back of Yoon after Thursday. and she became the first player — man or woman — to overcome a 10-shot first-round deficit to win a major championship since 1964. Ryu. the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year. has now won in each of her first four seasons on the LPGA Tour. just the seventh golfer since 1990 to do that. She missed five weeks of action after a minor surgical procedure in the spring and did not play the U.S. Women’s Open.

For Henderson. the final result didn’t erase what made this week special — particularly because it arrived after a season that hasn’t consistently matched her usual standards. She said it was one of her best results of the season. and at a major championship. it landed as a consolation prize that still feels like a turning point.

“Feels like (a dream) come true right now because I tried the couple times (to win a major) but I don’t get it. Today I did it. So, I’m so happy right now,” Ryu said.

Henderson’s own words carried the tone of someone who came close, but wasn’t letting the closeness sour it.

“Hopefully, I can continue this trend and continue to improve and get the ball striking in a good spot. Overall, this week I hit it really well, and just gave myself a ton of opportunities, and that’s really exciting. I feel like I could have easily been a few shots better. but at the same time. I’m not going to be greedy because I’m really thankful for a good week. ” Henderson said.

Her tie for third on Sunday marked her first top-10 finish at a major since the Chevron Championship two years ago. It was also her first top-10 result at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship since 2020, and she has now notched top-10 finishes at this particular major in half of her career starts.

Standing over the scoreboard after a tough closing stretch, Henderson framed it as restoration rather than setback.

“I’m really happy. I feel like I’m back in better form. I feel like I’m close to being really good again, which is really exciting. So happy to get a (top-3 finish) in a major. Makes the whole season feel a little bit better and also feels like it gives me a lot of confidence. momentum going into the rest of the year. which my next two events are also majors. ” she said.

“Hopefully I can carry that forward.”

There were other familiar storylines on the leaderboard. Anna Huang was the other Canadian to find the weekend at the KPMG Women’s PGA, finishing tied for 42nd. Nelly Korda, chasing her third major title of the season, struggled with the putter all week and finished tied for eighth.

For Henderson, the season doesn’t slow down. The next event on the LPGA Tour schedule is another major, the Amundi Evian Championship in France, July 9-12. Henderson won the Evian in 2022, and she’ll be looking to turn this run of confidence into something sharper.

“Couple times I was in a rough spot, and I was like, ‘it’s OK. Life is good,’” Henderson said. “So, I feel like mentally having kind of great weeks like this is really exciting. Looking forward to continuing good momentum. There is a lot of golf to be played this year. and hopefully I’ll be in a lot more final groups.”.

Her summer schedule also includes her title defence at the CPKC Women’s Open in August.

Brooke Henderson Haeran Ryu Ina Yoon Women’s PGA Championship KPMG Women’s PGA Hazeltine National Golf Club LPGA Dewi Weber Nelly Korda Anna Huang Amundi Evian Championship