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TSN Senior Reporter

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SAN MARTIN, CALIF. - A day after capturing her third LPGA Tour title, Brooke Henderson was back at work, gathering information about the CordeValle golf course, site of this week’s U.S. Women’s Open.

Along with sister and caddie Brittany, Henderson played nine holes under the watchful eye of coach Tristan Mullally, trying to put together a game plan for this week.

Despite all the smiles, the Smiths Falls, Ont., product seemed a little weary in the late afternoon sun and admitted she might still be rolling off the excitement of her latest win.

“I think I’m running on adrenaline from [Sunday],” she said, adding that she’ll be trying to get as much rest as possible before Thursday’s opening round.

She’ll likely need that this week. The U.S. Women’s Open is arguably the most gruelling test of golf all year. Much as with the men’s Open, the United States Golf Association likes to push things to extremes. It’s both mentally and physically demanding.

Henderson is aware of that. She comes into this year’s event off of top-10 finishes in the last two American championships. She tied for 10th as an amateur and followed that up with a tie for fifth in her debut as a pro a year ago.

“You have to be strong mentally for four days,” she stated. “And you have to know that you’re never really out of it. Pars are always good here.”

While it was only Monday and she’s only seen nine holes of the course located 35 minutes south of San Jose, her first reaction to CordeValle was unusual for this tournament.

“[The course] doesn’t seem as tough as usual,” said Henderson.

Of course, things can change drastically by the time Thursday rolls around. Everything will firm up making it hard to keep the balls on the fairways and get close to pins. And the greens do have some bold contours, which might play a factor before the week is done.

Henderson is spending some of her preparation time this week trying to improve her game, some parts of which, despite winning, she wasn’t pleased with last weekend.

“My ball-striking wasn’t as good as normal,” she said. “But I was making a lot more putts. I’m seeing more go in, which is always nice.”

She attributed much of her success with that part of her game to better reading of the greens. In both of her wins this year, she’s been deadly with the putter, holing long-range putts and also making clutch par-saves from knee-knocker distance.

She’ll need more of those this week, if she hopes to contend and grab her second straight major title.