It was a battle of golf’s teenage superstars with 18-year old Canadian Brooke Henderson besting the world’s top female player, Lydia Ko, in a Sunday playoff to claim the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
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Henderson made her birdie putt to lock up the title and become the youngest victor in this championship’s storied history – first as the LPGA Championship, now as the Women’s PGA Championship – and the second-youngest woman in history to win a major, only behind Ko, who accomplished the feat previous year.
Ko may have the “youngest ever to win a major” category sewn up, but Henderson became the youngest to capture the Women’s PGA (the former “LPGA Championship”).
65 Henderson’s final-round score at Sahalee Country Club on Sunday, the lowest score of the day and the best single round of the tournament. She fired a closing-round 65 that included a nerve-rattling 13-foot par save on the 18th hole, then won the playoff when she stuffed her approach shot on the first hole – Sahalee’s 18th, again – and Ko missed her birdie attempt.
Ariya Jutanugarn, in search of a fourth straight victory, shot a 66 to finish a stroke back.
And then, in the next breath, the newly-minted World No.-2 ranked golfer added: “I’ve still got one more spot to go”.
“Walking down the fairway we were yelling my name”. So I know that I played solid.
The 23-year-old Floridian had had never been in a final pairing until Sunday.
“They’ve started a really good national program, so they have some regional training centers and development centers across the country”, said Day, whose daughter dreams of big-time golf. Ko, the 19-year-old New Zealander, had won the previous two majors and is the top-ranked player in the world.
Henderson started the final day two shots back of Ko, who seemed as if she wouldn’t falter.
But using a putter she put in the bag just this week, she gradually reeled in Ko with stellar play on the greens. Ko finished with 67.
And so, with shaking hands, she made good on it, earning her first major championship, her second title on the LPGA Tour, and a $525,000 winner’s cheque.
“I’m not really sure if I pushed it”, Ko said.
“I’m putting great, so I know if I can just get around the hole I have a chance to make par or birdie or save some shots there”, Piller said.
After missing the cut in Portland, Brittany Henderson caddied for her sister in the final two rounds, and the two have been together since. A series of nervy putts allowed Weir to catch the American before he headed up 18 needing a par to force a playoff. With the Rio Olympics and a full slate of tournaments ahead, Henderson and her team are conscious of that and the possibility of fatigue. “And in the playoff hole, for her to take the “Tiger line” just right of the left trees, and then going right for the pin from the flawless yardage, she just played great”.
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The 58-year-old German star won his seventh senior major title – his fifth in the last 11 majors – to tie Hale Irwin for second place on the career list, a victory behind Jack Nicklaus. But Henderson said at the time that the situation wouldn’t limit her.
