Canada’s Brooke M. Henderson got her 2023 season off to a flying start by taking control of the first event of the year, the LPGA Tournament of Champions, on Thursday in Orlando, Fla.

Since 2019, this tournament has brought together golfers who have had victories over the past two years and the young Ontarian has competed in all four editions. However, in 2022 she finished second, three shots behind American Danielle Kang.

This time, Henderson took the lead in the first round with a 67 (-5) card. The 25-year-old fended off six birdies and made her only error at the 17th flag, where she suffered a bogey.

“[J’ai fait] big changes during the off-season and that excites me a lot. Coming in and playing -5 is a quick start and I’m looking forward to what’s next,” she told The Golf Channel after the round.

The end of the 2022 season had been particularly difficult for Henderson. A back injury prevented him from playing at the height of his talent. She is in great form now and it shows.

“Fortunately, my back is doing pretty well right now,” she said. I needed a lot of rest in the beginning and try to do exercises to strengthen myself. I feel in good shape and it shows in my game, it’s nice to be able to make aggressive turns with my driver.

As every year, the American Nelly Korda should be at the peak of the fight against her maple leaf rival. She concedes just one hit, she who also added a bogey to her tally. In 2021, his sister Jessica won. As in 2019, Nelly stood on the third step of the podium.

Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh, England’s Charley Hull, South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai and Taiwan’s Wei-Ling Hsu are third at -3.

No other Canadian is in action at the tournament, which brings together 29 golfers this year.