THE MODERATOR: All right, very pleased to be joined by 2024 champion of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, Brooke Henderson.
Brooke, just talk about getting to tee it up here again as I guess a year or so out from defending champ?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, I always look forward to they event every year. It's always very exciting to be back, see all the celebrities, see this beautiful golf course, Lake Nona. I feel like my game has been trending in the right direction for a while coming off the 2024 season. Been trying to put in some good work during the off-season, and just really looking forward to teeing it up here on Thursday.
Q. What was some of the work you put in in the off-season, and what else did you do? Saw you dropped the puck at the Senators game.
BROOKE HENDERSON: For sure. It was an incredible off-season. Really nice to go up north to Canada for a little bit. Was able to drop the puck at an Ottawa Senators game. That was special. It was really cool to be up close with all the players and cheer them on.
I also spent quite a bit of time down here in Florida. Switched over to the Qi35 driver and hybrid, and really excited about putting the new equipment into play.
And just working with my coach, which is my dad, and caddie, sister just trying to fine tune things, try to make small improvements on things we feel like we could have done better in 2024.
Really excited to tee it up, and looking forward to the season ahead.
Q. Obviously International Crown, normally that wouldn't mean much to you, but this year with the introduction of the world team, how excited are you to get a potential opportunity to go tee it up with the rest of the girls in Korea?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Absolutely. For a really long time I've just sat and watched that event on TV. I've always wanted to be a part of it. It's really exciting to have an opportunity to have the world team, and I really hope that I can be a part of that team come this fall.
Q. Brooke, you had such an incredible run of under-par scores at this tournament. What is it about Lake Nona that seems to fit you so well?
BROOKE HENDERSON: You know, I think this event is just very exciting. Lots of good vibes, great energy. Lake Nona is a beautiful golf course. Can be very challenging, but I feel like over the years we kind of figured it out a little bit; made lots of great notes in our yardage books. Kind of know where the good spots are to hit it and places you really want to avoid.
I think a little bit of strategy and also just the great energy and excitement of being in this event, playing alongside the celebrities, and starting off the new year.
Q. This being the LPGA's 75th anniversary, what does that mean to you? Are you much of a historian in terms of looking back at what this Tour did before you had a chance to get on the Tour?
BROOKE HENDERSON: I'm so grateful to the 13 Founders that started this Tour and made it into what it is today. Just the courage and the strength the Founders showed 75 years ago, which is a long time ago. It's a great way to celebrate that the Tour is continuing to grow and be elevated.
I think it's a really exciting time to be a part of women's sports, and particularly the LPGA Tour. I think the Founders would be very proud of where we are today.
Q. The Founders Cup has been going on for a number of years. I am sure you've had a chance to have conversations with some of those Founders. One or two conversations that stick out in particular?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Absolutely. Shirley and I definitely had a special connection. She was always very kind to me and would pull me aside. Back in 2016, one of the first years I met her, I was just was out on the range hitting my 48 inch driver, which was very long. All of a sudden, she was in her 90s, she just came over and started swinging it, and her swing looked amazing still.
Just to have that connection with her was really cool. Unfortunately she's not here with us anymore. I really enjoyed chatting with her and seeing her when I could.
Q. With your father and sister being so directly involved with your career, talk about what a comfort that is.
BROOKE HENDERSON: Absolutely. It's really special that we have been able to stay such a close-knit family throughout my career and my life. I think my dad, he knows my game and my swing better than anybody. He's really always been there for me and always trying to help me improve and achieve goals and dreams.
My sister is right alongside and she's always doing the same thing. Always trying to work together as a team to get better every single day, not only as a golfer but as people as well.
I'm just really grateful that we've been able to be a team for all these years out on Tour. This is my 11th year coming up, which is really special. My mom is flying up from Canada for this weekend to come watch as well. She's always been an incredible support, and I really couldn't be here without them.
Q. Any negatives, arguments out there? How do you deal with that?
BROOKE HENDERSON: I think we get along so very well, which I'm grateful for. I feel like in competition you're always striving to be better and pushing each other which is really healthy. Yeah, we get along really well, which is a good thing.
Q. What do you hope will be different in 2025 from 2024?
BROOKE HENDERSON: I mean, I would love to be in contention a little bit more. I would love to have the opportunity on the weekends, especially Sunday afternoons, to be right in the mix and hopefully post another trophy here soon. Been a little while since this event in 2023. Definitely feeling it a little bit.
I think every time out I'm just trying to get a little bit better. I think the main thing for me is trying to get off to little bit quicker starts Thursday, Friday to allow myself a better opportunity to be in the final groups on the weekend.
I think that's -- the main goal is be in the final groups, lower the scoring average a little bit, and see if the wins will come.
Q. How do you do that?
BROOKE HENDERSON: That's a good question. We've been trying to figure that out. But I think just looking at some of the things that we weren't super happy with last year, just trying to make small improvements in those areas.
For me, when the putter is rolling well I'm usually in the mix, so that's definitely been a focus point throughout any entire career and just trying to fine tune, get better.
I'm not wearing glasses anymore and that has really seemed to help as well. The glasses always seemed to be in the way a little bit. Like looking down the line and even on long shots I could always see the frame a little bit, which was a little bit annoying. And I think it might have even changed my swing a little bit unfortunately.
Now with them off I feel much more free. I feel like maybe not right away, but I think over time it'll definitely be better than wearing glasses.
Q. Will this be your first time again playing without the glasses?
BROOKE HENDERSON: It will be since August 2023.
Q. What has that adjustment been like for you, and why did you make that decision now to take them off?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, it's been great. Like I said, I feel a lot more free. I feel like I can see everything a little bit better. I think in terms of putting and chipping, just being able to look down the line, and not having to turn my head will be really helpful.
I had surgery in September to allow me to be able to wear contacts, so it's really exciting that everything went very well, successful. I'm just really looking forward to the season ahead. Hopefully glasses will stay off for a long time.
Q. What about this event makes it so unique with the celebrities and the music, still being a big tournament for you players?
BROOKE HENDERSON: It's so exciting. The vibes are incredible. Celebrities are all so nice and great golfers. Of course they're so successful in their own careers. To be able to learn from them a little bit and talk with them I think is really neat.
I've been very fortunate. I've always played with great people here at this event. I love this event. Being a part of it when it was still a Champions Tour event in 2017 and 2018 and now with the LPGA Tour, so it's always been a great event that I look forward to.
Q. Any celebrities that you look forward to playing with or ones you want to try and swing out there with this weekend?
BROOKE HENDERSON: I've always been paired with great people, great celebrities. I don't know if I can single any of them out. I always enjoyed every experience with them, and I look forward at being surprised at who I'm playing with this year.
Q. What are you most looking forward to experiencing this coming year?
BROOKE HENDERSON: I'm really looking forward to this year hopefully getting off to a quick start. Like I said, I always love this event and the Founders Cup next week, which is special. I love going to Asia. Singapore and Thailand are some of my favorite events all year. Season starts out very well for me, very exciting, a lot good vibes.
Going into the heart of the year, the majors, incredible venues and I'm looking forward to competing there. Like I said earlier, I think just trying to get myself in contention a little bit more. Trying to get until the final groups is definitely the goal.
Q. Obviously we chatted at the end of last year about how consistent you were with respect to those results. Nine top 10 finishes, which I know you were happy about. You mentioned you want to get into contention more often. Would you say that winning again is the ultimate goal for 2025?
BROOKE HENDERSON: I think it's definitely a big goal. I think to do that you got to focus on the smaller things, make sure that you're sticking to your game plan, your strategy.
For me I think lowering my scoring average is a big goal. If I do that well and I'm able to lower it I'll probably be in contention more and in the final groups more.
So just trying to have smaller goals along the way that hopefully will lead to the big goal, which is getting back into the winner's circle and be the best I can.
Q. Do you have contacts on right now?
BROOKE HENDERSON: I do.
Q. And then your equipment, you mentioned new driver, fairway wood. Anything else new in the bag for now, or no?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Those are the big changes since the end of 2024 season. In the fall of last year I changed my irons and putter, but since 2024 Grant Thornton finish just the driver and the hybrid.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports