Brooke Henderson of Canada finally convinced Commissioner Michael Whan that she is ready to play on the LPGA Tour, even though she is only 17.
Two days after Henderson blew away the field for an eight-stroke victory in the Cambia Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Ore., Whan agreed to waive the circuit’s age requirement of 18 and gave her immediate membership.
Earlier, Whan had denied her petition.
“After reviewing Brooke Henderson’s petition, I have granted her LPGA Tour membership beginning immediately,” Whan said in a statement. “Brooke will compete out of Category 7 on the 2015 LPGA Priority List for the remainder of this season and also for the 2016 season.
“Category 7 is reserved for players who have won an official LPGA event as a non-member in the current or previous calendar year. Brooke truly earned her card, and we are looking forward to Brooke joining our tour and our family.
“She is a special player and a wonderful person.”
Henderson has earned $661,818 in 10 events on the LPGA Tour this season, including a tie for fifth in the U.S. Women’s Open, and also captured the Four Winds Invitational on the Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s developmental circuit.
The only other players to win on the LPGA Tour before the age of 18 were Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko of South Korea, who also were granted early membership,
“Since I was a little girl in Smiths Falls, Ontario, my dream has been to play on the LPGA Tour,” Henderson said in a statement. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to join the tour as a member and play alongside so many of my role models.
“Realizing this dream here at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in my native Canada is even more amazing and I am so proud to be an ambassador for golf in this amazing country.
“I would like to thank Commissioner Mike Whan, the LPGA Tour staff, and all my sponsors, fans, friends and my amazing family for all the support I have received.”
Henderson, who is No. 17 in the latest Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, will make her debut as an LPGA Tour member this week in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at Vancouver Golf Club in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
The LPGA Tour announced that any money Henderson earns during the rest of the 2015 season will be considered official money and that she this will be considered her rookie season.
