WATCH: Brooke Henderson to make Canadian debut as a pro in Cambridge next month
CAMBRIDGE, ONT — Brooke Henderson has been under a lot of pressure for someone who is barely old enough to drive.
Henderson, the 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., has qualified to play in the last two LPGA tournaments, and both weeks found her near the top of the leaderboard.
She faded this past weekend in Texas, tying for 13th after a tie for third the previous week in San Francisco at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. But since a Canadian woman hasn’t won an LPGA event in 14 years, Henderson’s sudden success is turning a lot of heads.
READ MORE: 9 things you didn’t know about Brooke Henderson, Canada’s next golf superstar
Things aren’t slowing down for Henderson any time soon. She was in Cambridge, Ont. Monday to promote the LPGA’s Manulife Classic at Whistle Bear Golf Club, a private club that will hold the tournament for the first time. Henderson has played in the LPGA tournament the last two years, but this will be here first appearance since turning professional late last year. The tournament announced Henderson will get an exemption into the event, despite not having status on the LPGA because of her age.
“Rules are rules,” was Henderson’s response when asked if she thinks she’s being treated fairly by the LPGA. The women’s golf tour has age restrictions in place that prohibit players under the age of 18 from becoming full members, though it has waived those conditions for teen winners like current World No. 1 golfer Lydia Ko and big-hitting Lexi Thompson.
For the LPGA’s part, they are still being coy about Henderson’s future. The golfer can receive up to six sponsor’s exemptions—she’s received two, including the Manulife event, and will surely get the CP Women’s Open as well—but otherwise has to qualify for LPGA tournaments. Her $161,557 in earnings in three tournaments would put her 29th on the tour’s money list, but that is unofficial earnings because she’s not a member of the tour.
Kelly Schultz, director of media communications for the LPGA, said she couldn’t comment on any discussions between Henderson and Mike Whan, the commissioner of the LPGA, about the Canadian becoming part of the tour. But the irony of promoting an LPGA tournament by using a player who isn’t a member of the tour wasn’t lost on Schultz.
“Tournaments can offer exemptions to players of their choosing,” she said, noting that web traffic for the LPGA has been up 200 per cent in recent weeks, much of it coming because of Henderson’s play.
Manulife Tournament Director Milaina Wright says the event is receiving significant attention because of Henderson.
“We are excited to give her a sponsor’s invite, but it just so happens she’s generated so much extra press,” she says. “Canadians love to support Canadians, whether it is hockey or golf. I think it is a great thing for Canadian golf and if it takes a player like Brooke to shine the spotlight on it, then that’s a wonderful thing.”
As for Henderson, despite taking a late flight into Toronto straight from Texas after playing two weeks in a row, the teen says she’s not worn out from her recent experiences.
“I’m full of energy,” she said, laughing. “There’s definitely been a little bit of adrenaline in the last two weeks and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
A lot of people have questioned why I did the Monday qualifier in Dallas. But my game was really good in San Francisco and I had a chance to win last weekend and I wouldn’t change that. I have to take as many opportunities on the LPGA as I can because they are limited.”
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