Brooke Henderson Wins Playoff, Captures First Major at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Brooke Henderson drained a three-foot birdie putt to edge Lydia Ko on the first playoff hole to win the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday afternoon at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington. Henderson, who began the day two shots behind Ko, fired the low round of the Championship, a bogey-free, 6-under-par 65, to force the playoff. Henderson’s charge thwarted Ko’s bid for a third consecutive major championship victory. The leader after Thursday’s first round, Henderson did not reclaim the top spot on the leaderboard until her clinching putt on the first extra hole (No. 18).
Youth Served By Brooke Henderson
At the age of 18 years, 9 months and 2 days, Brooke Henderson today became the youngest champion in the 62-year history of this Championship. Henderson edged out Yani Tseng, who in 2008 became the first teenager to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at the age of 19 years, 4 months and 16 days.
Henderson Is Second-Youngest Woman to Win a Major … Behind Ko
By winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Brooke Henderson secured the first major championship of her career at the age of 18 years, 9 months and 2 days. She is the 2nd-youngest major champion in the history of the LPGA. Coincidentally, only her playoff opponent today, Ko, was younger (18 years, 4 months, 20 days upon winning the 2015 Evian Championship).
The Trend Continues
With Brooke Henderson’s victory today at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, an international player claimed this major Championship for the 15th time in 16 years dating to 2001. The lone American to win during this 15-year span was Cristie Kerr (2010 LPGA Championship, Locust Hill Country Club).
Brooke’s A Big Fan Of The Pacific Northwest
Brooke Henderson posted the second win of her young career today at Sahalee. Besides her win today in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Henderson won the 2016 Cambia Portland Classic (as a Monday qualifier).
Teen Spirit
Teenagers have won four of 16 LPGA Tournaments so far this season: Lydia Ko (2), Brooke Henderson (one), Minjee Lee (one). In fact, players 23 or younger have won 15 of the 16 tournaments this year on the LPGA Tour.
O’ Canada or That’s a Lot of Toonies
Brooke Henderson becomes only the second Canadian woman to capture any LPGA major championship, joining Sandra Post who won this Championship in 1968. Henderson, a native of Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada, will receive $525,000 for her victory today, or the up-to-the minute equivalent of $672,078 Canadian dollars.
Good Combo
For the week, Brooke Henderson needed only 1.720 putts per green in regulation, best in the field. Her average driving distance of 255 yards tied for second on the week behind only Lexi Thompson (265).
Ko’s Solid Play Results in Second Career Runner-Up Finish
Lydia Ko was not able to win her first KPMG Women’s PGA Championship today, but it was not from lack of solid play. Ko did not card a bogey while posting her best round of the Championship, 67, on Sunday, but it was not quite enough to stave off Henderson’s remarkable surge. This is the second time in Ko’s career she has finished runner-up in a major championship (2013 Evian Championship).
Same Championship, Different Year, Different Course
Brooke Henderson’s winning score (-6) in relation to par at Sahalee Country Club stands in stark contrast to Inbee Park’s Championship-winning tally of -19 last year at Westchester Country Club.
It Took 19 Holes
For the third time in four years, the Championship was decided in a playoff. In addition to Brooke Henderson’s victory today, Inbee Park twice required extra holes to win in Pittsford, N.Y. (2013, Locust Hill Country Club; 2014, Monroe Golf Club).
Sahalee Eased with Each Passing Day
With a little help from Mother Nature, in the form of rain, the scores at Sahalee Country Club got a bit lower with each passing day: Thursday (average score: 75.75), Friday (75.23), Saturday (73.37) and Sunday (72.03).
Jennifer Bermingham ends Magical Week as Low Club Professional
Jennifer Bermingham of Long Beach, California, finished her first career LPGA Tour event by becoming the Low Club Professional in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The 27-year-old LPGA Teaching Professional finished with a 78 for a 72-hole total of 302. On Friday, she became the first LPGA Teaching & Club Professional to make the cut since Karen Davies in 2007. There are 1,500 nationwide members of the LPGA T&CP.
“I feel like I’ve blossomed like a butterfly, from the beginning to the end of the week,” said Bermingham. “In the beginning, I was so nervous and didn’t know what to expect. And by the end of the week, I felt like a tour star, holding my shoulders back and really relishing in the moment. The whole point of this Championship, which includes what I heard about the [KPMG Women’s Leadership] Summit, is empowering women. I feel like this whole week has empowered me so much. I think this is what the whole Championship is all about.”
Bermingham was uplifted by the support she received by having nearly 20 family members and friends in the gallery. One of her followers was Nathan Brava-Partain, 10, of Long Beach, who got the opportunity to make the trip north to Sahalee to support his teacher. Nathan and his father, Robert Partain, took a flight Friday to be among Bermingham’s gallery. With success this week among the best women players in the world, Bermingham said that she has no second thoughts about pursuing her teaching career.
“I’m a very happy teacher as well. With students like Nathan, I don’t take for granted the mentorship that I give to them,” said Bermingham. “I kind of have the best of both worlds right now. I got to play in this amazing event and maybe I can continue to play and compete, but I still want to keep in touch with my kids.”
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