Brooke Henderson ditches the glasses for 2025, looks to end LPGA victory drought at TOC
Brooke Henderson ditches the glasses for 2025, looks to end LPGA victory drought at TOC
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Most Exciting Things I Saw at the 2025 PGA Show
While there were tons of amazing products at the PGA Show, Averee Dovsek shares her favorite apparel and products.
ORLANDO, Fla. — If something looks different about Brooke Henderson this week, it's probably the glasses. She's not wearing them anymore. The Canadian star had surgery in September to be able to wear contacts, and she's wearing them this week at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. It marks her first time playing without glasses since August 2023.
Henderson has long struggled with her eyesight, noting last year she's "never really been able to see the ball land or certain things since the start of my career." She has been a feel player since the beginning and relied heavily on her sister/caddie Brittany for even basic things like spotting the ball.
She could see better with the glasses, but found that they always seemed to be in the way,
"Like looking down the line and even on long shots I could always see the frame a little bit," said Henderson, "which was a little bit annoying. And I think it might have even changed my swing a little bit, unfortunately.
"Now with them off, I feel much more free. I feel like maybe not right away, but I think over time it'll definitely be better than wearing glasses."
Henderson, who joins Lydia Ko as the only past champions in the field this week, hasn't won on the LPGA since she triumphed at the 2023 TOC. Her 13 LPGA titles makes her the winningest Canadian – male or female.
"I think the main thing for me is trying to get off to little bit quicker starts Thursday, Friday to allow myself a better opportunity to be in the final groups on the weekend," said Henderson.
"I think that's – the main goal is to be in the final groups, lower the scoring average a little bit, and see if the wins will come."
When asked how she could go about reaching those goals, Henderson said that's exactly what her team has been trying to figure out.
"For me, when the putter is rolling well I'm usually in the mix," said Henderson, "so that's definitely been a focus point throughout any entire career and just trying to fine tune, get better."
And the contacts, she said, already seem to be helping.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
41 minutes ago
- New York Times
Raiders minicamp: Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao part of new-look defensive backfield
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders hit reset at safety this offseason. Tre'von Moehrig and Marcus Epps were the intended starters in 2023 and 2024 and played well together, but both players were allowed to depart in free agency. For Epps, it largely came down to injury, as he tore his ACL just three games into last season. Moehrig, though, was coming off the best season of his career. The issue was that the Carolina Panthers offered him a three-year, $51 million deal that the Raiders couldn't justify matching. Advertisement The Raiders braced themselves for that scenario by signing 25-year-old Isaiah Pola-Mao to an extension before free agency began. He started 14 games in Epps' place last season and was solid. Once Moehrig walked, the Raiders pivoted to signing versatile veteran Jeremy Chinn, previously of the Washington Commanders. With cornerback also being an unsettled position on the roster, the Raiders need their new, lanky safety duo to hit the ground running in 2025. Chinn, 27, is a proven commodity. He's a strong safety who's effective whether he's lined up deep, in the box or in the slot. New coach Pete Carroll's history of getting the best out of defensive backs was instrumental in luring him away from the Commanders. 'I was really excited for the opportunity to work with coach Carroll,' Chinn said last week. 'Having this opportunity now and being able to talk to him during that process, it was kind of a no-brainer for me.' During OTAs, the Raiders have moved Chinn around frequently. They don't have a quality answer at nickelback, so they've frequently used three-safety lineups with Chinn in the slot while Pola-Mao and Lonnie Johnson Jr. operate as traditional safeties. 'When his helmet comes on, he kind of flips that switch,' Pola-Mao said of Chinn. 'He goes in that mode where he's locked in. Having him on the field, it kind of puts me at ease because I know he's locked in and knows what he's doing.' 🔴📽️ Live: Isaiah Pola-Mao, Tyree Wilson, Adam Butler and Devin White address the media from the Intermountain Health Performance Center. — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) June 11, 2025 Wearing multiple hats is something Chinn has done often throughout his career. That experience has shown up throughout OTAs and minicamp. 'He's very sure of himself because he puts in the work,' defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said last week. 'Self-confidence comes from preparation; it's not a self-esteem thing or self-talk thing. When you're prepared, you're really, really confident. That's what I see from him.' Advertisement Pola-Mao is more of a bet on potential. He's tall, has solid range and is a willing tackler, but he still has to prove he can be a difference-maker on the back end. He said his biggest focus has been improving his man coverage and proving he belongs. 'I want to earn that starting role,' Pola-Mao said. 'Last year, I was kind of shoved into that role by default. … I want to earn the trust of the guys and the coaches. This is a new defense, so really, nothing last year matters. It's a new start for me.' The Raiders signed linebacker Germaine Pratt to a one-year, $4.25 million contract on Wednesday, according to a team source. While he was released by the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason, the 29-year-old Pratt remained an effective player in 2024. He started all 17 games and finished with 143 tackles, five tackles for loss and six pass deflections. The Bengals let Pratt go for financial reasons, not because he wasn't a good player. For the Raiders, Pratt immediately becomes the best linebacker on the roster. He'll have to earn his role in training camp, as the evaluation of the linebackers won't intensify until pads come on, but he will likely start at Will linebacker alongside Elandon Roberts. Devin White handled the majority of first-team reps at Will linebacker throughout OTAs, but now he'll have to beat out Pratt to retain that role. White is in the midst of a bumpy stretch that spans multiple seasons. He was an All-Pro in 2020 and made the Pro Bowl in 2021, but his play has declined since then. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers let him walk in free agency last year. He signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles but was cut before he ever took a snap for them. The Houston Texans picked him up, but he barely played, making just one start in seven games. He said a nagging foot injury was the root of his issues. Advertisement White has been a productive run defender and pass rusher, but he has been a major liability in pass coverage. That'll have to change if he's going to hold off Pratt. 'I want to prove that I'm still a leader and I can have a high impact on the team,' White said. Here are some additional observations from Wednesday's mandatory minicamp practice. • The defense has had the upper hand during team drills at mandatory minicamp. The offense has its flashes — Geno Smith found both Jakobi Meyers and Michael Mayer up the seams for touchdowns during 11-on-11 drills Wednesday — but the defense has been better on a play-by-play basis. The offense avoided turnovers Tuesday, but that changed Wednesday. Smith had a deflected pass picked off by cornerback Darnay Holmes. During the next drill, Smith was picked off again when edge rusher Maxx Crosby jumped a screen. Backup Aidan O'Connell threw the offense's third interception of the day when Holmes came up with another pick on an errant pass over the middle. • Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (foot) was the only player who didn't practice Wednesday. The Raiders have otherwise had full participation on the two days of mandatory minicamp. With Wilkins sidelined, veteran defensive tackle Adam Butler has been the primary option at three-technique. He is a useful pass rusher, posting five sacks in each of the last two seasons. The Raiders rewarded him with a three-year, $16.5 million extension this offseason. Butler's run defense, however, is so-so, while Wilkins is one of the best run defenders in the NFL. So the Raiders will need Butler to step up in that area if Wilkins has to miss more time. • Tyree Wilson may never live up to being the No. 7 pick in the 2023 draft, but that doesn't mean he can't be a useful player. Crosby and Malcolm Koonce will be the starters at defensive end, but Wilson could still leave his mark as part of the rotation. He said he's focused on improving his conditioning, footwork, center of gravity and pass-rush arsenal this offseason. Advertisement 'I'm trying to get my cardio up to be able to be on the field longer and to be around the ball to make more plays,' Wilson said. 'Then just being versatile. Last year, you saw me outside and inside. I'm trying to make my game more efficient inside. I'm working on more edge moves and counter moves and not just being a power guy, which I've always had in my bag.' Wilson is competing with Charles Snowden to be the first defensive end off the bench. As he works to cement that role, he said he felt twitchier and more comfortable toward the end of last season and believes that has carried over to the spring. Of course, how he's evaluated will come down to his production on game days. 'I wouldn't say it's not fair,' Wilson said when asked about the expectations attached to his draft status. 'You draft somebody high, you expect them to come out and perform right away. But I feel like every player in the NFL is different. … Some players are more polished in college than others, and some people have to come in and develop. I feel like everybody has a different timeline. … 'I feel like this is the year that (I've) got to go out there and show it and shut everybody up. Not that that matters. What matters is the teammates and whoever's around me.' (Photo of Isaiah Pola-Mao: Candice Ward / Imagn Images)
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
2025 Stanley Cup Final schedule: Panthers vs. Oilers Game 4 time, TV info
2025 Stanley Cup Final schedule: Panthers vs. Oilers Game 4 time, TV info Show Caption Hide Caption NHL rescue dogs, all available for adoption, compete in the 2025 Stanley Pup 32 adorable rescue puppies representing each NHL team will compete in the 2025 Stanley Pup, airing June 6 on TruTV and Sportsnet! The 2025 Stanley Cup Final is a rematch of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, but the early results are different. The defending champion Florida Panthers lost the opener but now lead the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 after a Game 3 rout. The Panthers will try to take a commanding 3-1 lead in Game 4 while the Oilers will try to tie the series 2-2. Last season, the Panthers won the first three games and the Oilers won the next three. Florida captured Game 7 on home ice for its first NHL championship. This year, the Oilers had home-ice advantage but lost it after a Game 2 loss, They have won five Stanley Cup titles, last in 1990. They are trying to become the first Canadian team since 1993 to win the championship. Here is the schedule, television and streaming information for the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final: Stanley Cup Final schedule Panthers lead series 2-1 All times Eastern; (x-if necessary) Watch the Stanley Cup Final on Sling How to stream Stanley Cup Final Stanley Cup Final games can be streamed on Sling TV and Max.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
LPGA Hall of Famer calls for more to speak out against trans athletes in girls sports
LPGA Hall of Famer calls for more to speak out against trans athletes in girls sports Betsy King grew up on 30 acres of land in Reading, Pennsylvania, where she honed a golf swing that would eventually land her in the LPGA and World Golf halls of fame. But golf wasn't her only passion. When older brother Lee left the house, mom often said, 'Take your sister.' And that's how King wound up playing baseball, basketball, hockey and, in elementary school, and tackle football with the neighborhood boys. Those memories come flooding back when King, a six-time major winner, sees biological males competing against females across the country. 'You know, when I was playing with the boys,' said King, 'I mean, it definitely helped my competitiveness to play then against other girls. But I was just trying to play well enough that that they would let me play. Obviously, even at that age, there was a physical difference.' Last week, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles made headlines when she called NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines a 'bully' and 'sore loser' for her criticism of biological boys competing in women's sports – in this particular instance, a high school state championship. Four days later, Biles apologized for her comments. 'In my mind, all I could think about is if a transgender woman started competing in what she (Biles) does, I think they could dominate,' said King, 'without a doubt.' Last December, the LPGA and U.S. Golf Association announced changes to their transgender policies that prohibit athletes who have experienced male puberty from competing in women's events. The move came as transgender golfer Hailey Davidson earned status on the LPGA's developmental Epson Tour. Sources say only a handful of LPGA players were in favor of allowing transgender athletes to compete. Even so, for King, the fight is far from over. Now she'd like to see a federal law put into place that would restrict the participation of biological males in female sports. In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that called on the government to "rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities." But that hasn't kept it from happening at high school competitions across the country. President Trump said last week that California would face large-scale fines after a transgender athlete won two medals in the state's track and field championship. 'I just feel badly for the high school girls that have to face it,' said King. 'You know, I've seen a couple of them on TV talking about it. And it really bothers me that the adults haven't stood up for these girls as much as they should.' As for the LPGA's new policy, King would like to see the tour return to a female-at-birth mandate, calling the trend of childhood transitions frightening. "I don't know that at 7 years old, if you really know what you are, who you are, or know what you want to do, to make a decision that will impact you the rest of your life," said King. "We don't listen to many 7-year-olds about a lot of things, right? That you would decide to listen to them about this is kind of frightening." A New York Times/Ipsos survey released in January 2025 found that 79 percent of Americans polled were against allowing biological males who identify as women to participate in women's sports. And yet, so few Hall of Fame-caliber female athletes have come out publicly against it. King, 69, posts frequently about the topic on social media and was especially disheartened recently when, during a floor debate on the Save Women's Sports Act, Pennsylvania state senator Lindsey Williams said, 'I want all girls to know that there are elected officials like me who believe female bodies are just as strong and fast and capable as male bodies.' King said she found Williams' comments to be ridiculous and went searching to confirm they weren't a parody. Five years ago, tennis icon Billie Jean King joined World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe, the WNBA's Candace Parker and nearly 200 athletes in supporting transgender youth participation in sports as part of a response to Idaho legislation that banned trans girls from competing in schools. 'There is no place in any sport for discrimination of any kind,' Billie Jean King said in a Women's Sports Foundation release. 'I'm proud to support all transgender athletes who simply want the access and opportunity to compete in the sport they love. The global athletic community grows stronger when we welcome and champion all athletes – including LGBTQI+ athletes.' Another tennis icon, Martina Navratilova, however, sees it differently than Billie Jean and has been vocal about the subject for years. She's one of the few decorated female athletes to do so. Growing up, Betsy King didn't have the same opportunities as her brother to play organized sports. As a three-sport athlete at Furman, King recalled going to the president's office each year with other female athletes to ask for more money. Female athletes stood up more back then, she noted, out of necessity. Some in King's circle and beyond have commented that there are more pressing issues currently facing the country. Her response: It's possible to be concerned about more than one subject. For example, in September, she'll head back to Africa for the umpteenth time (26th or 27th, she's not sure) to check in on some schools her Arizona church funds in Tanzania. After winning 34 times on the LPGA, King launched her Golf Fore Africa foundation in 2007 and raised roughly $20 million for World Vision, enough to fund 400 wells, at least 50 mechanized water systems and eight maternity wings for local hospitals. Though her work with the foundation has come to an end, she's finding more ways to use her platform. 'You know, I have nothing to lose,' said King on the divisive gender topic. 'I don't have any sponsorships at this stage. I've always been kind of outspoken and strong about values that I think even if I were playing, I would speak up.' Her mother, Helen Szymkowicz King, graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1940 and was elected into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame as a three-sport athlete. King looks at how much the landscape has changed for women's sports in recent decades and views the transgender debate as a step backward. 'Many of us fought for places to compete when none existed,' King said. 'We cannot surrender our sports or our spaces.' Put another way by one of golf's most decorated American players: It's simply not fair.
