Henderson strengthens membership case on LPGA Tour

Brooke Henderson used an LPGA major on a venerable stage to build a case that she’s ready to play with the world’s best.

The 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., fell out of the firstround lead at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship with a bogey on her last hole of the day at the tough Westchester Country Club on Thursday.

It was the only smudge on a scorecard that also featured an eagle and five birdies for a 6-under par 67.

That is good for solo second, one shot behind South Korea’s Jenny Shin.

“I hit it well all day. I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and made it easy for myself on a very difficult golf course. I’m hoping to continue to do that over the next few days,” Henderson said.

“I’m disappointed with my finish on the last hole, a bogey on a par5, but I did a lot of great things today and leading into the day if you said I would be 6-under in the first round of a major championship, I definitely would have taken it.”

Henderson three-putted the par-5 ninth hole from about 35 feet, rolling her first putt about eight feet by the hole. That did little to subtract from what was otherwise a brilliant round that featured outstanding driving and some deft short game play on the closing holes.

A strong performance here carries much more important implications beyond a rookie playing well in her first major as a pro.

Because of her age, Henderson doesn’t have status on the LPGA Tour (she doesn’t turn 18 until September). She is playing on sponsors’ exemptions and Monday qualifiers.

The LPGA has ruled if she earns as much as the top 40 on the money list, she will be exempt for next season. She has earned about $184,000 this season — good for 33rd place at the moment — but Dave Henderson, Brooke’s father and caddy this week, is worried she is going to run out of tournaments.

She is exempt into the U.S. Women’s Open next month thanks to her top 10 finish last year, but has only one sponsor’s exemption left, which will be used at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in August in Vancouver.

It’s expected she will also get invited to the Ricoh British Women’s Open at the end of July, but that could be it for Henderson unless she can Monday qualify for more tournaments.

After Thursday’s strong round, Dave Henderson pleaded his daughter’s case for LPGA commissioner Mike Whan to grant Brooke a special exemption for LPGA membership.