Henderson Feeling Rested, Creamer Continuing to See Progress and More from Mexico

After a whirlwind season that’s seen 19-year-old Brooke Henderson tee-it-up more than anyone else on the LPGA Tour, last week, it was time for a break.

The young Canadian, after a tie for 63rd at the Sime Darby Malaysia LPGA, admitted she had heard the jet lag coming straight from Japan to this week’s event in Mexico was ‘pretty difficult’ so she decided to have a rest.

“I wanted to make sure I was able to play this week,” said Henderson after her second-round 1-under-par 71. “I was really looking forward to (this event) throughout the year.”

Henderson, who sits third on the Race to the CME Globe, said she went to Florida for the week, where she practiced, rested, swam, and generally just hung out and recharged the batteries before the final two events of the year.

While Henderson got off to a sizzling start to the season, notching eight top-10 finishes in her first nine events, she had a few results later in the season – like last week’s T63 – that maybe showed she was tiring.

However, looking at her results, she’s still managed four top-10s in her last six tournaments.

There has much to celebrate for the major champion in her first full season on the LPGA Tour, and she said she’ll be heading to Smiths Falls, Ontario, for the month of December to spend the holidays at home before going back to Florida in January to and kick-starting her second full season on Tour.

“I’m looking forward to going home and seeing my friends and family, and being able to spend Christmas at home,” she explained. “I definitely enjoyed playing out on Tour this year, my first full season, but I think it’ll be a well-deserved break.”

Paula Creamer notched her first top-10 since March two weeks ago at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, and it was a sign that the hard work she has been putting in off the golf course has started to come to fruition.

Creamer, who sits 65th on the Race to the CME Globe, has been working with her swing coach on a variety of things since last December.

“We’ve made a lot of changes, but it’s been exciting,” said Creamer after her 1-over-par 73 at the Citibanamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational presented by Aeromexico and Delta. She sits T22 through two rounds. “I’ve seen a lot of really positive things. Doing it on the driving range is one thing, and a little different than taking it out on the golf course, but it’s coming. It’s definitely a work in progress.”

Creamer, who lives in Orlando, is looking forward to putting together two more solid rounds before the LPGA Tour’s season finale next week. 

“I love the golf course next week, and I know a lot of people who come out to watch. I have some friends coming out there,” she explained. “But, it’s the last event of the year and you want to give it your all for sure.”

When Mexican Gaby Lopez arrived on the first tee today, she wasn’t expecting to see such a familiar face.

But after her second-round 7-under-par 65, that familiar face was probably happy to have made an appearance.

“I have a brother that studies in San Francisco, and he told me earlier that he was not going to be able to come, and today he was on the first tee as a surprise,” said Lopez. “It was great to start the round like that.”

Lopez made six birdies against a lone bogey Friday. Her round also included an eagle on the par-5 2nd.

She had about 195 yards left, and knocked her approach to two feet.

“It was one of those numbers when you knew you have the number perfect, it’s just a matter of the swing, adjusting your swing,” she explained.

Lopez, who sits 54th on the Race to the CME Globe in her rookie season, called Friday’s round ‘very special,’ as the Club de Golf Mexico is actually her home club. 

“I had a lot of people supporting me, either if I play good or if I play bad. It’s just very special to be here. I feel very blessed,” she stated. “I had a tremendous year and I am just enjoying the rest of the season. I have two more days to make good rounds and just prove to myself what I can do.”

Mariajo Uribe of Colombia sits tied for second through two rounds in Mexico City after a second-round 67 moved her up a few spots on the leaderboard. She’s obviously comfortable at the golf course, but she’s also comfortable off the golf course in Mexico City as well.

“I play so much amateur golf in Mexico, so I know a lot of people here,” she said. “They speak Spanish which is nice, especially coming from Asia. To hear my language and to eat some food that’s similar to the one in my country (is great).”

Uribe explained the key to her fine finish today was to eliminate some ‘stupid’ mistakes she made Thursday.

“I just stayed patient today,” she stated. “I went bogey-free today and took advantage of the par 5s. That was the idea. I’m feeling positive for the weekend. This course is really scorable and the girls are playing good.”