SAMMAMISH, Washington – It was an instant classic. Two hotshot teenagers, both ranked in the top 4 in the world, dazzling beneath the majestic firs on a course that’s name translates to “high heavenly ground.” The tree-lined fairways of Sahalee Country Club are so tight players have taken to calling it “Sa-hallway.”
Eight years ago, Brooke Henderson hit a dagger to 3 feet on the first playoff hole at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to deny World No. 1 Lydia Ko a third consecutive major title. Ariya Jutanguarn, a 20-year-old who’d won three consecutive events coming into that week, finished solo third.
On Tuesday, the club honored Henderson with an honorary membership and a commemorative plaque on the 18th, which will play as a par 5 rather than a par 4 this year. It was after that life-changing Sunday at the KPMG, Henderson said, that she felt like anything was possible.
“Honestly, everything just went so perfectly that week,” said Henderson, who even won a car with an ace during the first round. “I felt like it was meant to be.”
Henderson actually gave the Kia K900 to her sister, Brittany, who still drives it.
Brooke Henderson swaps clubs on the T-Mobile 5G range during the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship practice round at Sahalee Country Club on Monday, June 17, 2024, in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America)
While Henderson went on to become the winningest Canadian player in history with 13 wins, Ko — a 20-time LPGA winner — now sits one point away from qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame.
The pair, who are now friends, competed in the same CN Canadian Women’s Open when Henderson was 14 and Ko was 15. Ko, of course, went on to win that week in 2012, when Henderson thought she was doing well just by being in the field.
“Her career has been phenomenal,” said Henderson of the Kiwi, “and winning here in 2016, being able to beat the No. 1 player in the world at the time, somebody that I looked up to, it was a huge turning point in my career.”
Henderson put a new putter in the bag the week that she won at Sahalee, and she’s hoping to rekindle that same magic as she makes another putter switch this week. It’s been a weak point of her game this year.
Two-time Olympic golf medalist Lydia Ko describes the pride she feels representing New Zealand at the Games and looks ahead to Paris. 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/OGwcBz86LA
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 19, 2024
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