OverDrive - Applebaum on Henderson's triumph at the CPKC Women's Open, the excitement at the course and the win for Canada

Episode Date: August 25, 2025

Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum joined OverDrive to discuss Brooke Henderson's impressive win at the CPKC Women's Open, the strong representation in Canada for Henderson, her toughness on the course, the tournament going to Edmonton and more.

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They just sort of, they're, there's a draft choice by the pros, and they're like, guys, just let me play with Brian this year because it might be my chance. Yeah, at least I like to believe that. I'm sure nobody else on earth would possibly believe that. But, you know that Dave, Dave knows that a good caddy can be worth about a half a stroke on a round, and a good pro-am partner can probably be worth about an eighth of a stroke during that weekend. That's right. That's right. I'll take credit for very, very small portions, but it does count for something. What a week, man.

What an incredible week? What was the energy like out at Mississauga yesterday? Well, it was one of those special days. You know, we've had a great summer all around in golf in general. People have just sort of played their minds out. And to finish, you know, the end of August with a perfect day, Bluebird Day in Mississauga and to have Brooke in the final group and basically play match play with Minji Lee,

who will likely be number one in the world over the next week, probably the way the rankings go. And Brooke sort of went head to head. It was electric on site. We had, you know, a full house and coming right down to the 18th. And, you know, you guys get to see a lot of the greatest athletes perform and see what they do. But I would have to say that Brooke has got to be in that upper echelon

the people that when championships are on the line, when pressure is on the line, and she does have the support, but also sometimes the weight of Canada on her shoulders. And for her to pull it off in that fashion, it was sublime. It was really something special to see. Lawrence, I saw you there, your green side as she, you know, makes that incredible lag putt on 18 to give herself the tap in to win it. When you're the CEO of Golf Canada and you know there's going to be a big, celebration. You want to get in there and congratulate her. How do you sort of position yourself

in the hug line there? What's your strategy? I've been told I'm 271 in the hud line. So I sort of find my, I find my spot. Well, we're very, we're very lucky that golf is supported by so many people in this country. They play it, they watch it, they support the game. But corporately and sponsor-wise, you know, we have two of the greatest title sponsors in the game. You know, on the women's side, we have CPKC, the railway that stretches from Canada through U.S. and into Mexico. And on the men side, we obviously have RBCC, who sponsors both not only the men, but they also are a big part of our women's game.

And so we really try to take care of our partners and be with them. Brooke is also an ambassador of the railway. So she wears that CPKC badge of Yvon. her on her sleeve. And so I get to spend a little bit of time with the CEO, Keith Creel and his family and his leaders. And then I also, over the years, I've gotten to know the Henderson's pretty well. And they probably were there 40 strong, including her dad, Dave, who's the coach, and

her sister is the caddy. And so to watch them and to realize that, you know, time flies, but it was two and a half years since Brooke was in the winter circle. And you could see her voice cracked a little bit when Bob Weeks was interviewing or at the end. And it was a long two years, and she took a lot of pressure on her shoulders to get her game in shape. And it was all clicking. I mean, Brian saw it also, you two, Dave, firsthand. She didn't miss a shot over the weekend, and it was really impressive to see.

And so to celebrate, I don't know if there's many Canadian athletes who are so beloved and encouraged and supported as Brooks, so seeing her win and seeing everyone celebrated at Mississauga was something special. What I was really impressed by this weekend of my kids and I were watching was just how steady with her mental game she looks, even when things are going well or not,

she just rolled in the same way put after putt. So the level of, like we talk about sort of physical gifts and talent and Brooks's always been able to hit it for a small frame and to hit it a ton she was she averaged 280 yards driving distance over the four days so it's pretty amazing but I believe and a lot of people would say that her probably greatest talent and gift is the mental game study and she's able to narrow in and focus and she's able to to stay calm when she's you know you know doing a hitting a green side bunker and then holding out for eagle she's

able to the highs stay medium and the low stay medium and the greatest news about it because I can't go the whole show without saying it is that she's headed your way Jason you know she's headed to rural mayfair to edmonton 2026 do we have to see Jason stradwick in a pro-am brian yes that what we need to say 100% the whole strutty crew's got to be out there I'm already I'm already I've been practicing really hard and I'm being serious I don't want to embarrass myself if you need me I'll be there listen if you can sell about 12,000 tickets strutty you are in the pro air no one more popular in Edmonton and Strutty.

Facebook marketplace. That's right. He'll look it up. He'll sell them individually. He'll show up at the, what is it, West Edmonton Mall and hand them out. That's right. Personally, if you ask you. I will tell you that we felt a great love in Mississauga, but we had a crew out from tourism to Edmonton.

We had a crew out from rural Mayfair. And, you know, we were in Calgary last year, Earl Grey, and we headed back to Edmonton. I can already feel that next year, 2026, will continue this energy we had in 2025. And so we can't wait to get to Edmond. We can't wait to see the animal in its natural habitat. And so we're really looking forward to that. But it has been a superb CPKC Women's Open.

And obviously, we can't go too far without celebrating our guys as well who played Corey and Nick played great in the Tour Championship. And I know you have our putting coach. on the show later. That's right. Great to have Corey. I mean, 62 is just unbelievable, Brian. Unbelievable week for Canadian golf.

It's been a great year. You know, it always is. Just every year it seems to get bigger and bigger and better and better. Golf Canada is a big part of that. Again, the CPKC Women's Open was outstanding at Mississauga. It'll be great in Edmonton next year. We'll be back up at TPC Toronto before you know it. It happens quickly.

So, congrats on a great event, like always, Lawrence. and we can't thank you enough for joining us today. Thank you for doing us. Okay, thank you, guys. And welcome back, Hazy, and have a great fall season. You got it. Thank you. There he is, Lawrence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada.

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