Brooke Henderson has made the cut for the first time in three years at the U.S. Women’s Open and despite a tough start to her Friday round, she staged an impressive rally and will enter the weekend just four shots back of the lead.
The Canadian made a double bogey on her opening hole Friday, the par-4 10th at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, after hitting a screamer out of the greenside bunker back down the fairway. But she chipped in for birdie on No. 14 and added three more coming in to finish with a 2-under 69, two off the round of the day shot by world No. 1 Nelly Korda (the American's 4-under effort was her lowest career round at the U.S. Women’s Open).
On Thursday, Henderson four-putted her second-last hole but then chipped in for birdie to salvage a 2-over 73. She said the birdie chips on Thursday and Friday helped make a “huge difference” on the scorecard and the leaderboard.
“Gave me that break to change the momentum and bounce back. I feel like today I started rough, but I was able to chip in on 14 and then make a bunch of birdies after that,” Henderson said.
Henderson missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open in both 2024 and 2025, but prior to that she had three top-15 finishes in a row. She hasn’t, however, notched a top-10 finish at this major in five years.
“It’s been a little while since I’ve been playing the U.S. Open on the weekend, so I’m excited about that and hopefully make some more birdies and limit the bogeys and climb up the leaderboard,” Henderson said.
The Canadian’s spot on the board continued to get better as the afternoon chugged along and the conditions got more challenging. Through 36 holes, Henderson sits tied for 18th.
History is also on her side, as 21 of the last 22 major winners on the LPGA Tour have been within five of the lead through 36 holes.
Alison Lee of the U.S. and Ruoning Yin of China lead at 4 under while six golfers are a shot back, including overnight leader Jennifer Kupcho.
Henderson has been spectacular with the driver so far this week, sitting fifth in strokes gained: off the tee but she has failed to capitalize – she’s essentially last in strokes gained: approach and has hit about half her greens in regulation so far. That’s been a microcosm of her season to this point.
Henderson finished third to start the year at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions but has just one other top-25 finish since. She has, of course, had to navigate life without her sister Brittany Henderson, who has been her caddie for more than a decade but who is expecting her first child in just a few weeks. She returned to having a family member on her bag in May, leaning on her cousin Ryan Henderson.
The first two tournaments to get their feet wet didn’t quite go as planned, but Henderson said she’s excited for what’s to come.
“I’m really excited he’s been on the bag, and I feel like we make a great team. I’m just excited for a few more events this summer,” Henderson said.
“I’m really excited to be playing this weekend.”
Henderson will not be the lone Canadian to make the cut as teen Aphrodite Deng, making her U.S. Women’s Open debut, will head into the weekend at 1 over after a 2-over 73 on Friday. Deng, 16, made three birdies and five bogeys on Friday.
Canada's Anna Huang and Lauren Kim finished at 6 over and 11 over, respectively, and missed the cut.
