THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome to the media center at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. I'm joined by former champion Brooke Henderson. Brooke, just talk about being back here this week. I think you just finished playing. What's it like to be back out here?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Absolutely. I look forward to this event every year. It's so fun for me. I'm surrounded by family and friends that live here. This event, they just do such an amazing job of having such an awesome atmosphere for families and kids to come out.
The fan support is always unreal and it's just a lot of fun to be a part of us out there playing golf. Playing this morning it was really windy, so hopefully won't be as windy this weekend. The course is in great shape, and I think it'll be a fair but challenging test.
Q. And just talk a little bit, too, about the surrounding area. Like you said you have family here. What do you love most about being back in the city?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, absolutely. It's just really special to be back. To be able to see friends and family is really cool, and to have them come out and watch Brit and I out there on the course, that makes it really fun for us.
Just as I mentioned, the atmosphere around this course, having the great food and the great drinks and having all the fun things for the little kids to do, and also to have them be able to watch us play golf is really cool. The fan support here is probably one of the best on Tour.
It's so cool to have everybody out and just great energy.
Q. Being a past champion of this event, when you're out there playing on course do you remember some of those shots and emotions you had when you won here?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, for sure. Being able to return to a place where you won and having won twice here is definitely pretty cool. There is definitely -- every hole I have great memories, so it's like, okay, maybe just try to do that again.
So we're trying to stick to our strategy and try to put ourself in good positioning going into this weekend. Yeah, super exciting to be back here and think about all the good this event has done for Simply Give and the communities. All the millions of dollars raised as well is really special to us and makes it even more fun to go out and play.
Q. So being a two-time winner of this classic, do you look forward to coming back to this one every year for reasons besides seeing family and a good crowd?
BROOKE HENDERSON: For sure. Where you've had success before it's always fun to tee it up again. You're like, well, maybe this is the week I'll be able to hold another trophy. This course, I've always loved it. It's very similar to courses that I grew up playing on in Canada with just the different types of grasses and the way some holes look to me and suit my eye, so that makes it really fun to play.
I think, yeah, just where you've had success you have a little bit more energy that week, so I'm hoping this week will be another good one.
Q. Lilia mentioned the greens feel a little bit different this time around. Did you notice that today when you were playing on it?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, a little bit. They're pretty firm too, so have to take that into account, especially if it's windy this week. You have to make some adjustments.
But I feel like this course has changed quite a bit since I won going through some of the renovations and changing some of the greens a little bit.
At the end of the day it's really fun to play in. I feel like we've gotten used to it the last few years, so hopefully be a good one.
Q. When a golfer on Tour gets used to courses after playing them multiple times, what does that do for your game or confidence?
BROOKE HENDERSON: It's nice. Yardage book is filled with notes and you're able to lean on past successes and past failures. If you hit it in a bad spot on some holes you know you're not going to want to be there, or how you could hit out of that spot a little bit better than other years.
The more you play a course the more comfortable you become. Doesn't necessarily become easier, but at least you're better educated and try to plan your way around a little bit more. It's cool. I'm really grateful to have played here since 2016.
It's been a long time, and I'm always grateful for the opportunity to come back.
Q. As a two-time champ here, and as you mentioned about the crowds here, when you play in front of not only friends and family but big crowds like this, is your playing strategy, does it shift at all? Does your -- not the attitude, but do you and your playing competitors, does it give you more energy as you see all the crowds that are following you during the week?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, definitely. Gives us a lot of confidence and gives us that extra boost. The energy around this place is always awesome. There is so many people. Everyone is excited to be here. There are so many fun activities other than just watching golf, which is fun, but there is also all these other activities that make it really family friendly.
You know, I hear the food and drink is amazing on hole No. 4. I'll have to get in there. All around the energy is great and I think it helps us all play better.
Q. With you having so much family here and friends, like last week you had the Brooke's Brigade. When you see that, does that just, I don't know, does it give that you added pep in your step when you see familiar faces in the crowd among the general fans in the crowd?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, for sure. I've been really fortunate and blessed to have a lot of great fans that have really joined our team and have really supported me along the way.
And then to have extra family and friends here this week and just people that I see here almost every year, it's really nice for me. When things are going great you have that momentum and you get that extra boost; when you're not playing so well, you know they're supporting you regardless and they just want you to do well.
I think it's a little bit extra confidence and makes it fun.
Q. This Sunday is Father's Day, and your dad, we see him out here often. We know that he's a big part of your golf journey. Just what does it mean that he'll be walking alongside and what has he meant overall in your golf journey?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, absolutely. My dad has been my coach my entire life, but dad first, which I think is really important. It's really special that he and my mom are both here, especially with it being Father's Day. Brit and I are really grateful for all the support we've received from our parents, and they're always pushing us and helping us to be our best, which is amazing. We would definitely not be here without both of their love and support, so we're very grateful.
Q. Is there anything special you're hoping to do for Father's Day?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Win would be nice. I've actually won three times on Father's Day, twice here and then once on the Epson Tour. It's definitely been a great day. I think he would enjoy that as well.
Q. What has been the significance of your two wins at Meijer in your career?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Huge. Yeah, the first time I won in 2017, was my fourth win on Tour. It had been almost a year since I had won in 2016, my major. So it was like a huge relief I remember thinking like because I was starting to wonder a little bit. Then all of a sudden I was so excited to get this win.
So it was a huge boost for me, and I was able to win later that year as well. I just remember it being very exciting on Father's Day again, so very special that way. Then in 2019, winning here put me in the record books as the winningest Canadian golfer male or female out on Tour, which was really, really cool.
I remember being extra nervous on that Sunday, and so to have that victory happen here I think is really cool.
Q. What do you hope to find within yourself or your game this week?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, you know, definitely hasn't been the year that I've been looking for so far, which is disappointing. So I also feel we are closer than we have been in a little bit. I feel like I've said we're trending in the right direction for a long time, but I really believe that. I feel like a lot of things are going really well. Just not everything has clicked together at the same time yet.
That's golf. So just trying to figure things out every single day and get a little bit better. But I had a lot of -- I felt really good over the weekend at ShopRite. Was able to get under par and make some birdies. I love that chasing birdies feeling. I think that will be a big mindset going into this week.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you for your time. Appreciate it.
BROOKE HENDERSON: Thank you.
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