Henderson was off to Portland after the great celebration which included hoots of “Go Canada!” and the country’s latest golfing hero hefting the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship trophy Stanley Cup style over her head. She left herself a birdie putt of some 25 feet and when her attempt slid by, so did her chance for victory because Henderson – in tight with her second shot – buried a virtual tap-in.
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After both players went without a bogey in Sunday’s final round and finished 72 holes at 6-under 278, Henderson, playing in her sixth major championship as a professional, stiffed a 155-yard approach to 3 feet and rolled in the birdie putt.
“I played really solid all day”, said Ko, who has a third, two wins and a second in her last four majors.
Henderson’s victory capped a fantastic day for the young guns on the LPGA Tour as the three leaders down the stretch on the final day were all 20 or younger. The 20-year Thai player missed a birdie putt on the 18th that could have put her into the playoff.
Ko’s pursuit of history runs deeper than the prospect of capturing three consecutive major championships.
Langer has three victories this year, also winning the Chubb Classic in Florida in February and the major Regions Tradition last month in Alabama.
Chants of “Go Canada” started echoing through the back nine when the 18-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ontario, sank a 90-foot putt from in front of the green on No. 11 for an eagle. “I just got outplayed”, Ko said.
“I really didn’t feel a tonne of pressure, or a tonne of nerves, which I think is the key to shooting six under in the final round, and then being able to play the playoff”.
Other Canadian golfers also chimed in, amazed by her incredible performance. “For her to win this, for her to win her first major it’s unbelievable, what she’s doing at her age”.
The youngest victor of the Women’s PGA (formerly the LPGA Championship), Henderson will jump to No. 2 in the Rolex Rankings, right behind Ko, thanks to this victory. “When she hung on over the weekend when it was rainy and the conditions were really tough, she really hung tough on Friday and Saturday, but the first sign that maybe her week was the hole in one”.
Henderson was aggressive with her driver all week on the narrow and intimidating Sahalee layout.
She sunk monster putts on the par five 11th for eagle, then again on the par three 17th. “I was just trying to nestle it up and make sure I made birdie”. “With students like Nathan, I don’t take for granted the mentorship that I give to them”, said Bermingham.
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“I was kind of aiming right center, but it nearly broke a little bit”, Ko said.
