EDMONTON — Brooke Henderson left the CPKC Women’s Open last year with a 35-pound trophy and returned this year with a just-as-sparkly rock.
Henderson, who got engaged this July to her long-time boyfriend Ricky Castro, was all smiles — and with reason — on Tuesday at Royal Mayfair Golf Club as she began her week of duties as the defending champion at her national open. Henderson won by one last year in a final-round duel against Minjee Lee. She is the only Canadian to win this championship twice.
Henderson’s win a year ago turned around an otherwise disappointing 2025 campaign, and after a bit of uncertainty through the early part of 2026, with her sister focusing on motherhood and being unable to caddie for her, she’s found herself firmly at the intersection of personal happiness and professional success.
And it’s as good a time as any to break through for another win on the LPGA Tour.
“It was so special to win last year again. Winning in 2018 was a huge career highlight. A dream come true. And to be able to relive that again last year was so special. The last victory that my sister was also on the bag for since she's been at home with her new daughter, so it's just been so much meaning to it,” Henderson said Tuesday.
“It had been a little while since I had won on Tour, so I feel like doing it at home in front of all the crowds and fans that supported me all week was really awesome.”
Henderson has notched three top-three finishes so far this season and comes into the week on home soil in the midst of a hearty stretch. Her last three tournaments in a row have been majors — and four of the last five. She counts this one as a major championship as well, so staying mentally and physically dialled in through the summertime has been key.
Henderson, who has had the last two weeks off, spent some time alongside her fiancé (Castro is a pitcher in the Minnesota Twins’ system) and some time at home in Canada.
“It’s been a great major season for me this year,” said Henderson, who is one of just six golfers on the LPGA Tour to make the cut at all five majors.
“It’s actually been really nice that (the majors) have been all back-to-back because my game found a good spot. I was like, ‘OK, this is really exciting. I had major after major. I always consider (the CPKC Women’s Open) a sixth major on Tour. I’m hoping that streak continues of good play.”
Despite this tournament moving around the country, Henderson has managed to find plenty of success at the CPKC Women’s Open beyond her two victories. Her last missed cut at this event ironically came in 2013, the last time Royal Mayfair hosted. But she has just one finish outside the top 25 in the last decade and has recorded two top-10s in a row.
She said her approach to things during this particular week has changed for the better as her career has progressed.
“I think this week is very demanding, and it's a very special week. I look forward to it every year in terms of it's a week that I would love to peak for, just like the other majors out on Tour. And I think for the most part I've been able to really use the energy and the atmosphere of all the fans that come out to support me,” Henderson said.
“There is so much love and so much just positive energy from them. I feel like I've been able to use that to my advantage a lot of years, which is really exciting.”
The way that Henderson handles herself this week hasn’t gone unnoticed by her fellow professionals either.
Lydia Ko, who won the 2013 edition of the CPKC Women’s Open while she was still a teenager (and not yet a pro at the time), said while it “never gets easy” to tee it up in your own national open — Ko has won the New Zealand Women’s Open on the Ladies European Tour three times — she’s realized as her career has gone on, the crowd doesn’t care what you shoot.
“I'm sure it's nerve-wracking and a lot of other things even off the course that (Henderson) has to deal with this week, but I'm sure she loves coming here,” Ko said. “You've got the ‘Brooke's Brigade’ and a lot of people yelling, ‘Go Brookie,’ and I love hearing that, too.”
Henderson has given Canadian crowds plenty to cheer about over the last number of years, both at home and around the world. And after a solid summertime personally and professionally, she’s as eager as ever to return home and try to tilt the most meaningful trophy in her collection one more time.
“The summer has been great,” Henderson said. “That’s given me a lot of confidence and a lot of momentum for the rest of the year. I’m hoping to continue to use that this week.”
