Brooke Henderson
Like the rest of us, Brooke Henderson has dealt with a lot of change in 2020, but once the young professional golfer from Smiths Falls got back on the links she made her mark, finishing tied for second in September at the ANA Inspiration in California. Here, a look at her career from those who have been cheering her on for years
The moment
While Canada has produced a number of talented golfers, success on home soil has proven challenging. In 2018 at the Wascana Country Club in Regina, that all changed.
The Canadian Women’s Open is a highlight event on the LPGA Tour for those wearing the maple leaf. Going into the final round at Wascana, Henderson was in position to break a 45-year drought: no Canadian woman had won the Canadian Women’s Open on the LPGA Tour since Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973. Henderson fired a final-round sevenunder-par score of 65 to win the national championship by four strokes, finishing with a 21-under total of 267 and sealing the win with a short birdie putt on the 18th hole.
Jennifer Aunger-Ritchie Smiths Falls resident:
“I swear you could hear cheers around the world coming from Smiths Falls. Even if you weren’t a golf enthusiast, you felt so much hometown pride to see your town in such a positive light. Brooke is just so proud of her roots, and that means a lot.”
Bob Weeks TSN Golf Analyst:
“It’s one of the top three moments in golf that I’ve covered. The interesting part about Brooke’s win was all the different elements. It was cold, it was an unusual golf course, there was no television for the first nine [holes], so Twitter was exploding with people wanting to know what was going on. That win just stands out for me because of how she never wobbled. She never took a step back.”
Chloe Wilson Carleton University golf team:
“Her determination and grind throughout the whole tournament inspired a lot of young women in golf, and that’s great because we need more female golfers out on the course.”
Adam Stanley LPGA.com:
“I looked around and saw Gail Graham, who’s in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, and there’s tears streaming down her face. You’ve got Lorie Kane with tears streaming down her face and Alena Sharp, who plays on the tour, who was emotional. You had her family all there and they were holding each other, and you couldn’t help but feel this was electric, emotional—all those things that make sports so special.”
David Henderson Father:
“We went through all the emotions that’s possible. You’re so excited and happy, it brings tears to your eyes. It really didn’t sink in until almost a couple days later, but it was just a special moment.”
Connor Brown Ottawa Senators:
“She was kind of coming up at that point, and I remember hearing so much more about her after that win, which was great.”
The rise
From a young age, Henderson and her older sister Brittany were a fixture at the Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club. Locals love recalling how Brooke, as a student in both elementary and high school, would use her lunch hour or recess to go hit balls. Some might say Brooke was destined to play golf — both her parents were talented players, and her uncle, Tom Henderson, competed frequently for many years at the top amateur level. Plus, Brittany, who is seven years older than Brooke, was also showing potential.
Henderson won her first amateur event, the 2010 CN du Quebec, at just 13. In 2013, she won the Canadian Women’s Amateur and was runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur. While still an amateur, Henderson won three events on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour and was named the top-ranked female amateur golfer in the world before she made the decision to pass on a college golf scholarship and turned pro in 2014.
It didn’t take Henderson long to win her first pro event, the Four Winds Invitational in Indiana, in June 2015. She followed that up by winning the Cambia Portland Classic in Oregon, making her the first Canadian to win on the LPGA Tour since 2001. Following the event, Henderson was granted LPGA Tour membership. In 2016, Henderson won her first major, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, making her the first Canadian woman to win a major in 48 years. By the summer of 2017, Henderson had made a name for herself on the LPGA Tour and was set to return home on the big stage.
The Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, a course just down the road from her home, was hosting the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Henderson ended up finishing tied for 12th, but her impact on the game didn’t go unnoticed.
Peter Aunger former president, Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club:
“One of my favourite memories is seeing Brooke and Brittany with their mom walking down the fairway and her long blond ponytail swinging side to side as she carried a bag that was nearly as big as she was.”
“One day it’s pouring rain— like buckets are coming down—and I see Brooke is still out there and I walk up to her and say, ‘Brooke, what are you doing?’ and she just replied ‘If there’s no lightning, we still play.’ That’s just who she is.”
Bob Weeks TSN:
“I first stumbled on her when she was around 14, when she won a professional event on the Canadian Women’s Tour. I wouldn’t say I knew she was going to be the world beater that she is, but she was definitely something special.”
Adam Stanley LPGA.com:
“The way she was able to drive a golf ball, the way she was able to hit a golf ball off the tee, should not have happened for someone who was 16 years old. The way that she swung and the sound of the golf ball coming off her driver was almost offensive, it was so good.”
David Henderson Father:
“On the golf course, I’m not called ‘dad’—I’m called ‘coach,’ and so we try to differentiate the two. I’m a proud dad and coach. It’s a remarkable career Brooke has had. We couldn’t have possibly fathomed the success. We still go along day to day, week to week to process things, not knowing where it’s going to go and how far it’s going to go. Because who would have ever known that Brooke would become the best golfer Canada’s ever seen?”
Mark Borowiecki Ottawa Senators:
“I was fortunate enough to meet Brooke earlier in my career prior to her
announcing that she was turning pro. I had heard she was down to earth and kind before meeting her, but I was still surprised by how genuinely nice and humble she seemed. For a person that age to be so composed and confident, yet still come across as genuine, was really cool to see. Her combination of skill, success, and personality really made her an easy athlete for all of Canada to cheer for.”
Sadie Hanley 11-year-old golfer:
“I waited two hours to meet Brooke and then she signed my visor and was really nice.”
Chloe Wilson Carleton University golf team:
“One of the most memorable days in my life was when I got to walk inside the ropes with Brooke at the Canadian Open. It was amazing to watch her play the whole round. She was so focused and determined to put up a fight for the top spot. She’s such an amazing golfer and person. It’s just a lot of fun to watch her.”
The impact
Jennifer Aunger-Ritchie Smiths Falls resident:
“We have three daughters, and we have had them in the junior program at the Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club for a few summers. My kids were very excited to do the program because they want to be like Brooke.”
Mark Borowiecki Ottawa Senators:
“My friends and I who golf have begun starting families, and we always joke that our sons or daughters will play on the LPGA or PGA tours. Whenever we mention the LPGA in these conversations, we automatically think of Brooke. She has left a lasting impression on many of us who have followed her career. Brooke is a great ambassador for Ottawa and the surrounding communities and is the face of golf in Canada for a lot of us.”
Amy McKinnon Hanley Superfan:
“Success is something very tangible. It’s a dream that’s become reality for someone who is just 20 to 30 minutes from our house, and the fact that she worked hard and set goals is a great example. It shows that it’s something that is real and is possible. To see Brooke realize her dream is inspiring to my daughter, who has set her sights on a golf scholarship.”
Chloe Wilson Carleton University golf team:
“Brooke is definitely a role model in my life. Her success and determination inspire me to do my best in everything I do whether it’s in golf or school or any sport really. She definitely motivates me as a player to do my best and stay focused when I’m out on the course. I want to achieve my goals the same way Brooke does, with complete determination, hard work, and heart.”
Sadie Hanley 11-year-old golfer:
“I like to wear the pink visors like Brooke because I want to look like Brooke.”