Brooke Henderson beats Lydia Ko in Women’s PGA playoff

Her kid sister, Brooke, was just like the thousands of younger siblings in this country who are forever toted along to arenas and soccer fields and, in this case, golf courses, so that the older one can play.

As quickly as Brooke Henderson is rising in the official world ranking, she’s moving just as fast up the list of most-liked golfers. And for good reason. Henderson said she knew playing an LPGA at 14 was special. “I’d never experienced that before”.

“I’m very proud and getting a lot more confident”, said Jutanugarn, “especially today, in a major”.

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.

The 18-year-old Canadian trailed Ko by two shots heading into the final round but a six-under-par round of 65 pulled her into contention and she then kept her nerve as they replayed the 18th hole to land the tournament at Sahalee Country Club.

Then on the first hole of the playoff, Henderson hit her second shot at the par-4 18th to within three feet while Ko could only get to within 20 feet.

137 The difference in age, represented by number of days, between Ko at her first major win, the youngest in LPGA history, and Henderson at her first.

And that’s exactly what 18-year-old Canadian Brooke Henderson did on Sunday to win her first major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Henderson also is the second Canadian woman to win a major, after Sandra Post’s victory in the 1968 event.

That gave her a three-stroke lead over a group of five players, including Henderson.

“I’m a very happy teacher as well”.

Ko had taken the lead after day three yesterday.

For the third time in four years, the Championship was decided in a playoff. “Right now the plan is to play as many events as I can and hopefully get a couple more wins”.

Ko, after a final-round 67, was first to play from the fairway on No. 18, the first extra frame.

Fans can only hope the theater put forth by Henderson and Ko on Sunday can be matched in the future. Jutanugarn, in search of a fourth straight victory, shot a 66 to finish a stroke back.

She did not make a bogey all day, and her only big mistake came at the 17th where she missed a three-foot birdie putt that opened the door to Henderson.

Last fall, she was ranked 200-and-something in the world. She shot 31 on the back nine.

That moment likely decided the tournament. Now, I’m No. 2 in the world, which is really cool.

“I feel like I’ve blossomed like a butterfly, from the beginning to the end of the week”, said Bermingham. Gerina Piller was the best American as she finished in a tie for 12th at two-over 286, eight strokes back of Henderson and Ko. The Canadian pulled off the comeback with a ideal back nine after going out in 2 under.

Both continued to make pars until the 17th when Henderson dropped a 50-foot birdie putt after pulling her tee shot to the wrong side of the green on the par 3. But last time they were just yelling Go Canada. She made par on 18 to force the playoff, but Henderson had one more flawless shot left.

Weir also won the Masters on the first playoff hole after Mattiace made a mess of Augusta’s 10th hole. “I’m looking forward to the summer”.