As the world No. 1 Lydia Ko turned 18 Friday, Canadian Brooke Henderson officially laid her claim to being the best 17-year-old in the world, blistering Lake Merced Golf Club for a 7-under 65 to climb into a two-shot lead heading into the weekend at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic Presented by CTBC. The former top-ranked amateur turned professional in December and is playing only the second LPGA Tour event of her professional career, but she looked like a seasoned vet on a day that saw her fire a bogey-free back-nine 31. Henderson’s 65 is the lowest score in the two-year history of this event, and she’s not afraid of the bullseye that comes with sleeping on a lead heading into the weekend.
“I think I’m ready,” Henderson said. “Yeah, 17 is young. As you’ve seen with Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson and even Jessica Korda, there are a lot of great names that have been able to do it. I’m hoping that I’m one of them.”
Henderson needed only 25 putts in a second round that has her at 9-under for the tournament, two shots clear of Na Yeon Choi while Yueer Cindy Feng (-6) and Sakura Yokomine (-6) are three shots back of Henderson.
Ko, the defending champion here, opened the day with the overnight lead after a 5-under 67 Thursday but couldn’t step on the throttle on her birthday, posting a one birdie, one bogey even par round Friday.
“I really didn’t get anything going,” Ko said. “When that happens it’s really hard. You know, I would say the par-5s, you kind of need to take advantage of them. I didn’t position myself well in any of them, and that just makes it tough. Kind of feel like you’re already losing shots there.”
That’s atypical from Ko, though. At only four shots back of Henderson, she sits in prime position to potentially defend here come Sunday. Of Ko’s six wins on the LPGA Tour, she trailed heading into the weekend in four of them, including overcoming a five-shot deficit entering the weekend at 2014 CME Group Tour Championship.
But to do so here this weekend, Ko knows the challenge that lies ahead.
“I think last year I was making a lot of up and downs and I think those were really crucial,” Ko said. “Sometimes you’re going to hit a loose shot here and there or get some funky lies. TO make up and down, save those pars and get advantage of those par-5s, that’s really important. That’s what I did yesterday and that’s what I did last year.”
It may not prove to be a leaderboard for the taking for Ko, but it’s an inexperienced group compared to the norm.
Among the top eight on the leaderboard, only Ko, Na Yeon Choi and Julieta Granada have ever won on the LPGA Tour.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
2 – The position both Brooke Henderson and her sister, Brittany Henderson, finished Florida’s Natural Charity Classic a month ago on the Epson Tour – Road to the LPGA
3 – Only three players in the top eight on the leaderboard have ever won on the LPGA Tour.
4 – Four of Lydia Ko’s six LPGA Tour wins have been after she trailed heading into the weekend.
17 – The age of leader Brooke Henderson.
25 – The amount of putts needed by Brooke Henderson Friday.
54 – Combined age of Brooke Henderson (17), Cindy Feng (19) and Lydia Ko (18) who sit at 1, T3 and T5 on the leaderboard respectively
79 – The number of players who made the cut at +5 on Friday.
SISTER ACT
Four weeks ago Brooke Henderson waited just off the 18th green at the Epson Tour’s Florida’s Natural Charity Classic to comfort her older sister, Brittany, who had held the lead entering the final round but wasn’t able to hold on.
“She walked off the 18th green and was like, How did you do?’ And I’m like, We tied.” Brooke said.
Nearly seven years separate the two but not a place separated them on the scoreboard. Two Henderson’s hanging on the scoreboard. Both with a two beside them under position as the co runner-ups.
“It was awesome. It’s sort of funny. 144 players and we both finished second,” Brooke said. “It was a great week. She led almost the entire way and I was nowhere to be found until the last day and made a few putts down the stretch.”
Currently, the sister duo lives together, practice together and frequently travel together to events. They even used to caddie for each other before both players turned professional. Brittany caddied for Brooke at the U.S. Women’s Open last year, where she finished in 10th as an amateur, and Brooke returned the favor at the LPGA’s Qualifying School this fall. This week, though, they are thousands of miles apart on opposite coasts. Brooke got in the field this week in San Francisco through a sponsor’s exemption and is currently in the lead by two entering the weekend. Brittany sits in a tie for sixth at the Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay on the Epson Tour – Road to the LPGA after a first-round 2-under 70.
“I love when she’s on my bag,” Brooke said. “She’s one of my best friends and she knows my game just as well as I do. Same goes for when I caddie for her. Her opinion means a lot to me. Just being able to lean on someone I think is very important.”
Throughout her five-month professional career - one Brooke left Canada and moved to Florida to start with her sister - Brooke’s leaned on her sister without a tinge of regret.
“For me I’m not on a steady tour, sort of a mixture of mini tour, Epson and LPGA. So when I get the chance to come out here and play, I’m really happy to do that,” Brooke said. “It’s a great opportunity for me, so I really got to be able to capitalize when I do get those opportunities. Turning professional, I’m really glad I did. I think it’s the right move for me at this time.
“You know, I’m really loving where I am right now, and it’s awesome to wake up every day and do something I love.”
Like waking up on a Saturday morning with the lead.
“In my amateur career I loved when I had the lead,” Brooke said, “and I just want to continue to build it. This thing is far from over. There are tons of great players out there. The day is not even over yet. I’m excited for the position I’m in and really excited for the next couple days.”
IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY, IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY
Prior to and following her round defending Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic champion Lydia Ko was serenaded with “Happy Birthday” from fans and the tournament staff.
“Yeah, you know, I got two celebrations, the first one on the 10th tee and then coming off 9,” Ko said. “Really cool to share that birthday with a lot of people out here.“
Ko shot an even par round of 72 to sit four back of tournament leader Brooke Henderson.
“You know, I really didn’t get anything going. When that happens it’s really hard,” Ko admitted. “You know, I would say the par 5s, you kind of need to take advantage of them. I didn’t position myself well in any of them, and that just makes it tough. Kind of feel like you’re already losing shots there.”
The six time LPGA Tour winner will shake off the round and enjoy her 18th birthday with friends and family.
“We’re doing a birthday dinner, so have Korean barbecue. Go to the original roots. Yeah, should be good,” Ko said. “Couple of the players are coming, family and friends. But, yeah, I think it’s just great that this year I can have a really good birthday dinner with a lot of close friends and we can have some fun.”
THIRD TEEN, CINDY FENG, ALSO IN THE HUNT
While Lydia Ko and Brittany Henderson may be generating most of the headlines another teenager, 19-year-old Cindy Feng also finds herself in the hunt at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic Presented by CTBC after a second round 68 leaves her at 6-under heading into the weekend.
“Yeah, I played great today,” Feng said. “Made a lot of birdies, which always helps. Made some putts. Just didn’t did anything too stupid.”
Feng started playing golf at the age of four and half in China and moved to Orlando at the age of nine. Like most players who grew up in the 90s and 2000s, Feng was influenced by Tiger Woods. Unlike most players, Feng was able to walk the fairways with Tiger for a few holes.
“Yeah, so he made his first trip to China in 2001. I was almost six at the time, and somehow I got play with him for two holes,” Feng said. “ I got to walk with him. I mean, I was still young. I had his pictures all up on the wall at the time. It was one of those things like he was my idol. To see him in person and then to have all those people follow him, it was crazy.”
HA NA JANG HANGS AROUND
Despite not having her best stuff, Ha Na Jang was able to salvage a day two 71 to sit in a tie for fifth at 5-under for the week.
“Think today is just a little miss the fairway,” Jang said. “I think yesterday 100% my fairway, but today is maybe ten fairway. So I think it’s bit trouble with my tee shot today.”
Jang is coming off her worst two performances of the year at the ANA Inspiration and LOTTE Championships and decided to make a change in her bag.
“Change my irons, new irons Wednesday,” Jang said about the change. “I think a little bit more confidence and it’s really good.”
When asked if it is easy for her to get new clubs on Wednesday and put them into play the next day Jang replied with a big smile and nod of the head.
“No problem.”
$10 MILLION CLUB AWAITS NYC
With a first or second place finish here Sunday, Na Yeon Choi would become only the 10th player in LPGA history to cross $10 million in career money on the LPGA Tour.
Choi pushed closer to that milestone Friday with a 4-under 68 on Friday to move into second at 7-under-par. Her coach flew in from China two days ago and she’s seen the results so far.
“I had a great round yesterday, and especially today I started very well even very cold weather,” Choi said. “I just adjusted the distance because it was going very short distance wise.”
Choi called her coach in because she’d been up-and-down since the season opener when she won the Coates Golf Championship. The win alleviated all the pressure that had developed over a two-year winless drought for the eight-time career LPGA winner, but she hadn’t seen the results on the course. She missed the cut in two of her next eight starts and only finished inside the top-10 one time in that span. Not the results the 2010 Vare Trophy winner expected to follow the thrill of victory.
“Just right after the tournament I had a missed cut, so I didn’t have much time to keep feeling the win,” Choi said. “But I think I have less pressure than last year. I have confidence in my game. When I’m in contention I can trust myself.”
Among the top eight on the leaderboard entering the third round, Choi – at only 27 years old – is the second oldest competitor. World No. 1 Lydia Ko is just 18 now, and the leader, Brooke Henderson, is just 17.
“I feel like I’m really old,” Choi said with a laugh. “They’re so young and they got really talented. I have to keep working hard and maybe more than them. Then I can maybe play with them.”
Ko’s talked previously about how she hopes to retire at the age of 30, but Choi – a former prodigy herself at joining the KLPGA at just 16 – isn’t so sure that Ko will truly want to hang it up as the years pass by.
“30? I was thinking like retire 30 when I was a teenager,” Choi said. “So right now I’m thinking I’m going to play more than 30. I think it’s just changes a little bit in age.”
Even if the up-and-down nature of the game drives her to brink of questioning her sanity at points.
“Every day is different,” Choi said. “Sometimes this is a great job; I want to play as a long as I can. Sometimes too much stress and I just want to quit. Every day is just different.”
With a win now behind her, Choi’s hoping for a stress-free weekend in contention
WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND
79 players made the cut at 149 (+5). Notable players to miss the cut include Yani Tseng (+6), Christina Kim (+7) and Paula Creamer (+16).
GULBIS AND PRESSEL TO JOIN FOX SPORTS TEAM FOR USGA EVENT COVERAGE
On Tuesday, FOX Sports announced the final additions to its USGA on-air team and a pair of familiar names for LPGA fans were on it, Natalie Gulbis and Morgan Pressel.
“I’m very excited to be working with FOX,” Pressel said. “It will be my first attempt at commentary and working on the television side of things so I think it will be really neat.”
“I can’t wait to broadcast for FOX,” Gulbis said. “I’m excited about what FOX is going to bring to golf and I’m just excited that they wanted me to be part of the FOX family.”
Pressel will serve as U.S. Open 360 analysts for the men’s U.S. Open at Chambers Bay while Gulbis will cover the Women’s Amateur Four-Ball and the U.S. Women’s Amateur as an on-course reporter and will contribute to FOX Sports digital coverage of the U.S. Open, the U.S. Senior Open and the U.S. Women’s Open.
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