Olympic golf a priority for proud Canadian Brooke Henderson

Article content

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES — When Brooke Henderson stood on the 18th fairway at Le Golf National on Wednesday afternoon, she wasn’t thinking like she would during the first round of an LPGA tournament.

No, the winningest Canadian pro golfer ever was thinking of what it would take to get in contention for an Olympic medal.

With 208 yards over water for that second shot on the Par 5, Henderson wasn’t worried about throwing money away by sliding down the leaderboard with a bogey because there is no money in this tournament. She was thinking of finding a way to keep herself in the hunt for the podium.

Article content

A shot on line and crisply struck left a 48-foot putt holed for an eagle from the pride of Smith Fall’s, Ont., to finish off an uneven opening round of two-over 74.

It wasn’t ideal — especially with France’s Celine Boutier firing a brilliant 7-under par 65 — but there are three rounds remaining time to move into contention.

Fellow Canadian Alena Sharp has much less left to do than that, sitting in a tie for seventh after birdieing the final two holes on the way to a 71.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

“It’s the best start to the Olympics for me,” said Sharp, who is also competing in her third Games. “It’s nice to shoot an under par round.”

It’s nice to be in the Olympics as well, a concept Henderson is passionate about. The 13-time LPGA Tour winner loves just about everything there is about the Olympic event, including the strategical challenges it presents.

“It is really different than a regular week,” Henderson said following a round that saw her bogey holes two through five before adding four birdies and that brilliant closing eagle. “A regular week you finish top 10 and you feel good about yourself. This week you finish fourth and you feel terrible, so it’s definitely a mindset shift which is kind of difficult for a lot of us out here, doing that one week every four years. At the same time, it’s a challenge.”

Article content

It also speaks to the evolution of golf in the Olympics, a concept that still is seeking momentum from the biggest names in the sport. There are many players — on the men’s side especially — who openly will tell you a podium pales in comparison with the prospect of winning a major.

They’re not necessarily wrong, given the absence of golf from the Olympics for so long, but there’s hope that, with time, the value of a medal will be considered more precious.

From the day she started winning tournaments on the LPGA Tour at the rate no Canadian has before her, Henderson always wore the Maple Leaf with pride. So yes, being a three-time Olympian resonates, as does the desire to to see golf ascend to increased prominence in the global sporting spectacle.

Henderson believes that many of the top women players share her view.

“I would say a lot of the girls out here consider it equal or even above,” Henderson said. “I would say it’s right up there. It’s a different feel this week. It’s a bigger stage. There’s more meaning behind it when everyone’s competing for their own country. I think it hits everybody a little bit different.”

Article content

There’s a feeling around this year’s Olympic tournament that golf is perhaps putting down firmer roots. Its return at the 2016 Rio Games after a century away was met with modest success.

The Brazilian layout — Campo Olympico de Golfe — felt like it was a nondescript layout in the middle of nowhere and the fields were reduced of star power when Irish star Rory McIlroy and a number of others withdrew because of concerns over the Zika virus.

Five years later in Tokyo, there were no fans but at least two of the best players in the world — Xander Schauffele on the men’s side and Nelly Korda in the women’s event — were gold medallists.

And now, here in France on the Albatross Course at Le Golf National — which gained global prestige when it hosted the wildly successful 2018 Ryder Cup — the Olympic tournament has been a huge hit.

Crowds were overflowing for Sunday’s final round of the men’s event that was won by World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in a late duel with popular European Tommy Fleetwood.

Henderson was in the crowd on Sunday for the men’s medal chase and witnessed a throng stacked up so deep it was difficult for her to even see a shot.

Article content

There was a solid turnout on Wednesday morning for her 10:10 a.m. local tee time, in front of a sizeable group of Canadian fans that included Canadian Olympic Committee president Tricia Smith, Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum and former Olympic kayak great Adam van Koeverden.

“I really think (golf’s momentum at the Olympics) is really picking up momentum every year,” Henderson said. “With Schauffele and Nelly winning in Tokyo, I feel was a great boost and this week what the fans, the course and the challenge, it’s building a lot of momentum. And then go back to the U.S. in four years is pretty cool.”

In 2028, the Olympic golf tourney will be contested at famed Riviera, a venue that has hosted majors and will surely add to the prestige.

“I saw the crowds for the men and to see similar for the women is for me mind-blowing,” Korda said of her experience on Wednesday. “I wasn’t sure what to expect walking onto that first tee and then when I looked to the green and saw people four deep I though it was absolutely amazing.”

Henderson saw and felt the same and is anxious to experience the same.

“It was just an incredible vibe, it’s so cool that women’s golf is so popular in this event,” Henderson said. “It’s really fun for us to be a part of the Olympics and to be among the best athletes in the world is important to us.”

Article content