Dream season
Brooke Henderson granted full LPGA membership,
COQUITLAM, B.C.— After Brooke Henderson was denied early admittance into the LPGA Tour’s qualifying school, the Canadian teenager gave commissioner Michael Whan several reasons to change his mind.
Henderson put together a string of impressive results in LPGA events this year despite having to rely on sponsors’ exemptions or qualification just to play. And two days after she cruised to her first Tour victory at last weekend’s Cambia Portland Classic, Henderson was finally granted full LPGA membership.
“It’s an opportunity that not a lot of people get,” the 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., said Tuesday before shooting a practice round at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. “I can start living my dream today.”
Having a full membership means Henderson won’t have to play Monday qualifying tournaments for the rest of the season. She faced having to qualify because she had exhausted all six of her sponsors’ exemptions.
“It’s a little bit surreal,” Henderson said. “The last couple of days have been an amazing journey.
“I’m still going to play my own game and go out there and do what I have always done. Just to know I have a place to play now any week I want to — and I have full status for at least a year — is really exciting.”
Henderson had petitioned the LPGA to allow her to attend qualifying school last year after winning three times as an amateur on the Canadian Women’s Tour, but was turned down.
“That was probably the best thing that could have happened to me,” she said. “It made me realize what I really wanted in life and what I really desired.
“It made me work really hard, made me focus and be more determined.”
LPGA policy states that any woman 18 years of age or over is eligible to apply for Tour membership, but golfers between the ages of15 and18 may
“Just to know I have a place to play now any week I want to is really exciting.” BROOKE HENDERSON ON BECOMING AN LPGA TOUR MEMBER
be granted special permission to apply for membership by petitioning directly to the Tour commissioner.
Henderson had the weight of a Tour victory behind this petition.
“After reviewing Brooke Henderson’s petition, I have granted her LPGA Tour membership beginning immediately,” Tour commissioner Michael Whan said in a statement. “Brooke truly earned her card, and we are looking forward to Brooke joining our Tour and our family.”
Veteran golfer Lorie Kane, the last Canadian to win an LPGA event 14 years ago, said Henderson deserves to be on the Tour. “It was only a matter of time before that happened,” Kane said.
The win in Portland moved Henderson to No. 17 in the world rankings, boosted her 2015 earnings to more than $660,000 (U.S.) and secured her 2016 card.
Henderson can now concentrate on playing in the $2.25-million Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, which begins Thursday. She was greeted with a round of applause when she walked onto the driving range at the Vancouver Golf Club on Monday and has been busy signing autographs.
“It’s pretty cool to be famous,” said Henderson, the Tour’s third-youngest champion ever at 17 years 11 months six days.
The past few days have been a whirlwind, but Henderson knows her journey is just beginning. “I have big goals and big dreams ahead of me,” she said. “I am still a long ways from where I want to be. It’s still pretty cool to know I am competing against the best in the world.
“If I can continue to improve and get better every day, hopefully good things will happen.”