P – Karrie Webb started solidly at the LPGA Tour’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open on Thursday but sits five shots off the lead held by red-hot Frenchwoman Karine Icher. She had a seven wood that she could hit 150 yards, or 200 yards, depending on what shot she needed.
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Henderson, meanwhile, had the attention of most of the fans Thursday. She was granted her Tour card on Tuesday after becoming the youngest Canadian to win an LPGA or PGA event with her victory last weekend at the Cambia Portland Classic.
Henderson began her round with a birdie then added back-to-back birdies on the back nine at number 13 and the par-four 14th. “But it’s all for the better”, she said.
“Just to be back home playing in front of them was unbelievable”.
Henderson finished eight shot ahead of three golfers who tied for second, the largest margin of victory in tournament history, two better than those of Juli Inkster (1999) and Ayako Okamoto (1986), who won under a 54-hole format.
Earlier this week, Henderson spoke about how, even in the spotlight, she felt no nerves and relished the expected crowds.
Cheered on every step of the way, Henderson said she managed to remain focused throughout her round.
“It’s been average”, she shrugged.
“My putting was very good, and I think today I’ve seen the hole bigger than the other days”, Icher said.
She’s been on the tour since 2003 and is looking for her first career LPGA victory.
Ko also has plenty of crowd support this week.
Icher, a runner up to Ko in 2013 at the event, took apart Vancouver Golf Club with a bogey-free seven-under-65. When a birdie putt on the fifth hole broke right at the last moment, finishing an inch off, she allowed something of a smile-grimace. “If someone shoots 6 or 7 under, there isn’t much I can do about that”. I have a different caddie, a different coach, a different look, I’m older, a lot of things are different. “First-time LPGA member and playing off a win … and hopefully I’ll have more wins in the future”.
Americans Danah Bordner and Stacy Lewis, the world No 3, Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg and South Korean IK Kim are tied for third after shooting four-under 68s.
Icher, 36, birdied seven of her first 11 holes.
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“When you make some birdies like that in a row you build some confidence”, she said. You have to be very precise. “It is a good challenge”. “You know the club, you take the club, you hit the shot, and it’s close to the pin”. “Sometimes it’s not. But golf should be simple like that”.
