Brooke HendersonThe Canadian Press
Canada's 17-year-old golf phenom Brooke Henderson is going pro, saying she's ready to start living her dream.
The teen from Smiths Falls, Ont., said Thursday she has signed with sports agency IMG and won't play at the University of Florida, the school to whom she had verbally committed for next fall. It came as no surprise after a sensational season in which Henderson made the cut in all four of her LPGA Tour events – including a 10th-place finish at the U.S. Open – and sky-rocketed to the No. 1 spot in the world amateur rankings.
In 2014, Henderson set a scoring record while winning the PGA Women's Championship of Canada, where she carded 14 birdies and an eagle over two days at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont. She was the runner-up at the U.S Amateur Championship, and the low amateur at the U.S Women's Open. Henderson was a top attraction at the Canadian Women's Open in London, Ont., where she was the low Canadian and the low amateur, and several agents were there to watch and make pitches to the young star.
"This is a really exciting day for me; I'm turning pro and starting to live the dream I've lived my whole life to do," Henderson said on a teleconference. "I'm really excited to compete against the best players in the world on the LPGA, and I know it will be a long road, but I'm really excited for it and I've worked really hard."
Her decision seemed to be on the horizon when the standout was not named to Canada's 2015 amateur golf team late last month, despite having spent time in Florida at the team's training camp. She had, after all, carded the lowest score at the 2014 Women's World Amateur Team Championship and lead Canada to a silver medal. Henderson already has 50 amateur titles under her belt.
Golf Canada's young professional program will continue to support her. She also has deals with Ping and the Ottawa Senators.
Henderson is Canada's most promising female golfer and a likely headliner for the country when golf returns to the Olympics in Rio in 2016. The congenial youngster who routinely drives the ball some 250 yards joins IMG's stable of golfers, which also includes Michelle Wie, Christie Kerr, Paula Creamer and former No. 1 world amateurs, Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee.
"Brooke's tremendous talent on the golf course is exceeded only by her positive and engaging personality," Guy Kinnings, global head of golf at IMG said in a statement.
As an amateur playing the occasional LPGA event, Henderson had been unable to collect prize money. Turning pro now doesn't in itself guarantee she can play any LPGA tournament she likes. Currently, Tour players must be 18 or get an age exemption, like those given to teen stars Ko and Lexi Thompson, youngsters who had already won Tour events.
Henderson has not yet won at that level. Her request to play the LPGA Qualifying School as an underage golfer was denied.
In her debut pro season, Henderson could play up to six LPGA events on exemptions from her sponsors. That six doesn't include majors, so she could be considered for those five events too – her performance at last year's U.S. Women's Open already assures her a spot in that one. She could also play her way into some events via qualifying.
"Brooke has proven herself to be a special talent, demonstrating all of the necessary characteristics to make a successful transition to the professional golfing ranks," Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada's chief sport officer, said in a statement.
But earning consistent results against the world's best female golfers will be tough. She will be playing courses for the first time alongside veterans who have competed on them for many years. She is currently the highest-ranked Canadian golfer in the women's world golf rankings at No. 223.
"My family and close supporters have been thinking this through for a long time now," Henderson said. "And we believe it's the right decision."
Rachel Brady