Canadian Brooke M. Henderson won the 2017 Meijer LPAG Classic for Simply Give – just one of her 8 LPGA Tour career wins. The fan-favorite took some time away from the recent Lotte Championship in Hawaii (which she won by 4 strokes) to answer a few questions for the Michigan Golf Journal:
Q: The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give is changing the routing of the golf course this year; how might that change your strategy for how to attack certain holes?
A: “I feel being a past winner there that I had a really good strategy, so I’m really interested to see the kind of changes they made. Hopefully I’ll get up there a little early for a couple practice rounds and check it out.”
Q: The Meijer tournament quickly gained attention its first 5 years for its great fan experience and large crowds — how do energetic environments and large crowds effect pro players’ games?
A: “The Meijer is amazing. The energy that comes from the crowds, and all the different events that are happening around the golf, just makes everything a little bit more exciting. And I know the fans really appreciate it too. For me, I love playing with big crowds, especially when I am playing well, and I can key off their energy.”
Q: The charity element of this tournament (Simply Give) is feeding the hungry, and just the past two years alone $2 million has been raised, one of the highest figures on the LPGA Tour. What does that type of community support do to your appreciation for playing golf?
A: “That’s one thing about golf I think is so amazing. You can play a huge role in giving back to the local communities – and really the whole world. I’m really fortunate to be in a position where I can support charities like Simply Give – being a small part in that which can make such a big difference in people’s lives.”
