Brooke Henderson relishes the heat of the spotlight trained on her in Canada's LPGA tournament.
The two-time winner of the CPKC Women's Open showed both last year in Mississauga, Ont., and in 2018 in Regina that the extra attention she gets in her home-country tournament doesn't feel burdensome.
"This week is very demanding and it's a very special week," Henderson said.
"For the most part, I've been really able to use the energy and the atmosphere of all the fans that come out to support me. There's so much love and there's so just positive energy for me. I feel like I've been able to use that to my advantage a lot of the years, which is really exciting.
"I'm just trying to go out and play my best and try to make it exciting for them, especially if I can get some good rounds together."
The 28-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., will attempt both a repeat and a third victory in her home tournament starting Thursday at Edmonton's Royal Mayfair Club.
"Winning in 2018 was a huge career highlight, a dream come true," Henderson recalled.
"To be able to relive that again last year was so special and the last victory that my sister was also on the bag for, since she's been at home with her new daughter. It's just been so much meaning to it, and having my family and friends run out onto the green after the victory was so cool."
The $2.75 million US CPKC Women's Open includes six of the world's top 10 golfers, including No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States.
The winningest Canadian golfer with 14 tour victories placed in the top three in this year's Women's PGA Championship and the Evian Championship. Henderson lost in a playoff to South Korea's Haeran Ryu in the latter.
Henderson is coming off a tie for 29th in the AIG Women's Open in Britain and has made the cut all five majors this year.
"Having two back-to-back, really top major finishes in the middle of the summer felt really like my game is back to kind of how it used to be a couple years ago," Henderson said.
"It has given me a lot of confidence and a lot momentum for the rest of this year and I'm hoping to continue to use that this week."
In addition to becoming an aunt, Henderson also became engaged this summer to Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Ricky Castro.
"I feel like all these amazing things off the course have really helped on the course, just being a little bit more relaxed and finding that freedom that golfers strive for," she said.
