DUNROBIN, Ont. – Canada’s Brooke Henderson is finally getting to enjoy some quality time at home after a whirlwind start to her 2016 golf season.

Her first full campaign with full-time status on the LPGA Tour has been a busy one and the Smiths Falls, Ont., native has shown her rookie season was no fluke.

Henderson has picked up where she left off last year, finishing in the top 10 at eight of the 11 events she has entered this season. She has risen to fifth in the world rankings and is ninth on the money list.

Not bad for someone still four months shy of her 19th birthday.

“I’m playing really well but I know I have big goals and big dreams ahead of me,” Henderson said. “I’m still pushing to be that little bit better.”

Henderson was back in the Ottawa area on Tuesday with her sister Brittany for an appearance at the Kevin Haime Kids to the Course Classic at Eagle Creek Golf Club.

It was her first trip home since Christmas Day.

“It’s really nice to see everybody and be back home in Smiths Falls and sleep in my own bed,” Henderson said.

She plans to relax at her family cottage later this week before getting ready for the May 19-22 Kingsmill Championship in Williamsburg, Va. That will kick off another busy run of nine tournaments in a row for the 2015 Canadian Press female athlete of the year.

Henderson is planning to play over 30 tournaments in 2016 and is a virtual lock to be named to the Canadian team that will participate at the Rio Games in August. Right now she’s focused on maintaining her consistent play and continuing her push to reach the top spot in the world rankings.

Henderson became the third-youngest winner in LPGA Tour history last summer when she won the Cambia Portland Classic by eight shots. She was immediately given full Tour membership after the victory.

After rising over 200 spots in the world rankings, she set a pre-season goal of reaching the top 10 and improving her consistency around the greens.

Her top result this season was a second-place showing in early February at the Coates Golf Championship. That kicked off a run of eight straight top-10 finishes.

Consistency has been key to her strong play. Henderson is fifth in scoring average (70.02), 14th in average driving distance (268.36 yards) and 25th in putting average (29.55 putts per round).

She has strayed wide of the fairway at times (108th in driving accuracy at 66.01 per cent) but is 13th in greens in regulation (74.37 per cent).

“I’ve definitely had a really good start and my game is in a good place,” Henderson said. “I definitely have small improvements that I want to make just to become a little bit better.”

The Summer Games will be like a sixth major this season. Henderson said she’s still stunned that she’ll get to enjoy the Olympic experience and represent her country.

“It’s kind of both ways,” she said. “Sometimes it’s really surreal, and other times it’s like, ‘You know what, I can go and win there.”’

Henderson added she feels more mature now and is getting used to the extra attention from fans and media. She’s trying to take it all in and really enjoy the experience.

“It’s gone by super fast,” she said. “I’ve been able to travel all around the world and go see a ton of different places and play a lot of really good golf on a lot of really good golf courses. So it’s been a lot of fun.

“I’m definitely living the dream. But it’s nice to back home.”

World No. 1 Lydia Ko will have some Canadian Ko-mpany at this summer’s U.S. Women’s Open. Victoria, B.C.’s Naomi Ko — no relation — has qualified to play in the biggest event in women’s golf. And it wasn’t easy.

Ko, an 18-year-old member of Canada’s national golf team who just completed her freshman year at North Carolina State University, topped a field of 48 players to earn the only spot up for grabs at a sectional qualifier Monday at The Home Course in Dupont, Wash., south of Tacoma.

Ko shot rounds of 74 and 67 to post a 36-hole score of three-under 141 and topped the field by two shots. She made four birdies on the back nine of her second round to overtake Caroline Inglis of the University of Oregon.

Now she prepares to play in the U.S. Women’s Open, which goes July 7-10 at CordeValle Golf Course in San Martin, Calif.

Ko had made three previous attempts to qualify for the U.S. Open.

“I’ve played in a lot of U.S. Open qualifiers before and never played well,” she told the Tacoma News Tribune after her round. “I just think it was because of my lack of experience, and being around (professionals) and not feeling … as good as them.

“This means a lot,” Ko said. “It will be something I can work toward throughout the summer, and have a goal.”

After three years on Golf Canada’s national development squad, Ko was named to the national team earlier this year. Last year, she tied for second at the Ontario Women’s Amateur, placed third at the Canadian Junior, tied for fifth at the B.C. Women’s Amateur and made it to the quarter-finals of the U.S. Junior Girls Championship. Ko won the 2014 B.C. Junior Girls title.

Ko, who plays out of Royal Colwood Golf Club, was named Sport B.C.’s Junior Female Athlete of the Year for 2014.

In celebration of this weeks THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass, we thought we’d share this footage of Rickie Fowler hitting trick shots to the famous island green 17th hole. Enjoy the show!

Ten years ago on the final time The Players Championship was played in March, before moving to May in 2007, it was Canadian Stephen Ames who captured his second PGA Tour title at the iconic event.

After three rounds, Mike Weir was just three shots back and tied for fourth. It was shaping up to be a Canadian Sunday before Weir faded and Ames pulled away from the pack for an eventual six-shot win, his biggest on the PGA Tour at an event many dub the ‘Fifth’ major – thanks to its tremendous field and recognizable, challenging course (the TPC Sawgrass ‘Stadium’ course, which has hosted each iteration of the event since its inception in 1982.

This year will mark the 42nd playing of the PGA Tour’s marquee event, and even though a decade has gone by since a Canadian victory, there will still be the usual contingent of today’s Canadian PGA Tour stars like Graham DeLaet, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, and Adam Hadwin in the field.

And, there’s no shortage of Canadian connections to the event in Jacksonville, FL.

“Thousands of international travelers come to Northeast Florida every year for The Players Championship, and, historically, Canadians have always been at the top of the list,” explains Players Championship tournament director Matt Rapp.

The Players has consistently had the strongest field of any golf tournament on the calendar, including the major championships. This year, the rumour mill is swirling if Tiger Woods will be making his return to professional golf at The Players, beginning May 12th.

However, even without Woods (who is a two-time champion), and after Rickie Fowler’s history-making finish in 2015 (trailing by five shots with only six holes left, Fowler played the final six holes at 6-under-par to force a playoff. He went on to win the playoff after landing his tee-shot on the par-3 17th five feet from the hole), the 2016 edition of the tournament is set to be another strong one.

“The tournament draws the best field in golf every single year. The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass offers the purest test in golf – challenging everyone and favouring no one,” explains Rapp. “The fact that the best players in the sport come to compete on golf’s greatest stage sets this tournament apart from any other event all year.”

Rapp also says the tournament will also introduce a new fan experience for 2016 called ‘The PLAYERS Club’ where a special ticket gives fans access to the clubhouse, special suites on the iconic 17th and 18th holes, unlimited food and beverages, valet parking, and a $500 gift card to the golf shop.

“This provides that ultra-luxury hospitality experience some fans are looking for,” says Rapp. “It’s a perfect setting for any trip,” states Rapp. “There’s access to miles of beautiful beaches and world-class accommodations just minutes from the course. If you’re a golfer, there are more than 70 courses in the area to play. Mix in great dining options, and it makes for a special visit.”

Graham DeLaet is also hoping his fifth visit to The Players is a special one. Canada’s highest-ranked male golfer’s best finish at TPC Sawgrass is a tie for 26th.

This year’s Players comes during a busy stretch for DeLaet, and he recently told the Canadian Press that staying mentally sharp will be the key for him, especially around the difficult TPC Sawgrass layout.

“Physically I’ve been feeling really good this year, probably the best I have been while on the PGA Tour,” he told the wire service. “I’ve been able to practice more than I have been in the past. It’s more on the mental side that I need to stay ready.”

With Canadians in the field looking for a victory, a past Canadian champion, and some fine hospitality awaiting Canadians to chose to visit Jacksonville, Rapp says it’s an idyllic time to consider adding The Players to your list of tournaments to visit in the future.

“It’s a bucket list item for many to be here in-person, and will certainly be no different this year,” he explains.

Click here to learn more about The Players Championship.

WOODBRIDGE, Ont. – TaylorMade Golf have introduced Phenom, a set of clubs designed and engineered to support junior golfers with proper swing fundamentals through optimized lengths, weights and lofts, allowing for shots from tee to green with consistent distance gapping throughout the set. For each club in the set, the shafts have been both flex and weight-optimized and made to appropriate lengths, while the grips have been developed to meet the needs of smaller hands, allowing proper feel throughout the swing.

Driver & Fairway
The Phenom driver is a 400cc titanium driver made to the same exacting standards of performance and design for which TaylorMade drivers are known. Designed at the USGA limit of COR, the Phenom driver delivers remarkable distance, forgiveness and easy launch technology in a visually appealing design, three key performance attributes rarely found in junior sets.

The Phenom fairway wood features a stainless steel head with a low profile, low-CG design, providing technology that will help junior golfers get the ball airborne off the tee or from the fairway. A larger head size adds forgiveness and promotes confidence at address.

Rescue & Irons
Similar to the fairway wood, the Phenom RescueTM club features a stainless steel head design in the first Rescue that junior golfers will be excited to hit. Designed to be easy to launch with long distance, the versatile Rescue will also help bridge the critical gap between a players’ fairway wood and irons.

Availability
Phenom is available in two set configurations, each created for a specific size and age range of player. Both sets include graphite shafts that have been flexed specifically for junior swing speeds.

K40 comes in a 6-piece set for golfers ages 5-8 (12” – 18” fingertips to floor) that includes a 400cc Titanium driver, Rescue, 7-iron, SW, putter and bag at an MSRP of $349.99 CDN starting June 15th.

K50 comes in an 8-piece set for golfers ranging from 9-12 years old (18” – 24” fingertips to floor) that includes a 400cc Titanium driver, fairway wood, Rescue, 7-iron, 9-iron, SW, putter and bag at an MSRP of $399.99 CDN starting June 1st.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – James Hahn beat Roberto Castro with a par on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff Sunday in the Wells Fargo Championship to snap a three-month slump.

Hahn, who failed to make the cut in his previous eight tournaments and hadn’t shot a round in the 60s since February, made a 4-foot putt on the par-4 18th to win his second career PGA Tour title.

Castro’s tee shot on the playoff hole found the creek on the left side of the fairway and his third shot landed in a spectator’s shoe on the side of the green, leading to a bogey.

Hahn bogeyed the 18th in regulation for a 2-under 70, and Castro had a 71 to finish at 9 under, one shot ahead of Justin Rose (71). Hahn also won the 2015 Northern Trust Open at Riviera.

Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson both shot 66 to tie for fourth at 7 under with third-round leader Rickie Fowler (74) and Andrew Loupe (71).

Both Castro and Hahn had chances to win in regulation.

Castro broke a tie when he rolled in a birdie putt from 6 feet on the 15th hole to get to 11 under. But he quickly gave the lead up with bogeys at 16 and 17 on the “Green Mile,” the toughest closing holes on the PGA Tour.

That gave Hahn a one-shot lead and a chance to put pressure on Castro on the 18th hole if he made par. But Hahn rolled a 7-foot putt past the hole and took a bogey.

Castro, playing with Fowler in the group behind Hahn, got up-and-down from the rough on right side of the fairway on 18 and went on to make a 6-foot par putt to force the playoff.

Like Castro, the 18th hole ultimately proved to be the undoing for McIlroy and Mickelson, too.

McIlroy played the 493-yard hole in 4-over par for the week, including a bogey Sunday when his approach shot landed behind a rock on the other the side of the creek that runs along the left side of the hole. Lefty was left to ponder what could have been had it not been for a quadruple-bogey 8 on the hole Saturday.

“I hit a lot of good shots over the weekend, but unfortunately, one bad hole yesterday kind of cost me,” Mickelson said.

McIlroy had seven birdies in between his bogeys the first and last holes.

“Anytime you walk off the golf course and shoot 66, you can’t be too disappointed,” McIlroy said. “But I think in the circumstances having a feeling like I had a chance on the back nine to post a number for the guys to at least think about it and I didn’t.”

McIlroy also took a gut shot on 15 when failed to hole a birdie putt, prompting him to immediately drop his hands to his knees as he bent over in disbelief.

Both players said they were pleased with how they finished and feel good about their games heading into The Players Championship next week.

Adam Hadwin, of Abbotsford, B.C., finished 4 over and tied for 61st while fellow Canadian Graham DeLaet, of Weyburn, Sask., shot a 6 over in his final round and was 8 over for the tournament.

Fowler talked Saturday about how he feels more prepared to handle the pressure of playing in the final group of Sunday.

But he struggled from the start, and his approach shot on the seventh hole that sailed over the water hazard and landed in the backyard by a house typified his control problems. He finished with a double bogey.

PRATTVILLE, Ala. – Ariya Jutanugarn was shaking over her final 5-foot putt, with personal, Thailand and LPGA Tour history on the line.

She made it anyway, becoming the first Thai winner in LPGA Tour history Sunday in the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic.

“Last putt my hand shake, my leg shake,” Jutanugarn said. “I’ve had that before but I have not had it this bad before. My putter’s shaking, and I’m like, OK just go out from here.”

The 20-year-old Jutanugarn shot a 1-under 71 to beat Stacy Lewis, Amy Yang and Morgan Pressel by a stroke after losing two shots off her third-round lead. Her mom, Narumon, and sister Moriya, a tour player who tied for 63rd in the event, were on hand to celebrate on Mother’s Day.

Jutanugarn had four birdies and three bogeys a day after tying the tournament record with a 63, but didn’t repeat two previous failed attempts to keep a Sunday lead.

The long-hitter gave cheering fans a wave and smile as she approached the final green, chipping to 5 feet to set up a par putt. Jutanugarn finished at 14-under 273 on the Senator Course at Capitol Hill.

Yang bogeyed the 17th in a 67. Lewis shot her third straight 68. Pressel also had a 68.

Lewis had her 10th runner-up finish in a 49-event drought. The 11-time tour winner has 23 career second-place finishes.

“This week helped a lot because I was able to see shots come off the way I wanted to,” Lewis said. “The way I got the ball up and down on the last hole. There’s so many good things that came out of this week and so excited to get playing again next week. We have a busy stretch coming up and it’s a good time to start to play some good golf.”

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was the top Canadian, finishing the tournament tied for 22nd with a 5-under 283. Brooke Henderson, of Smiths Falls, Ont., was 4 under and tied for 29th while Samatha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., was 1 under.

Jutanugarn two-putted from about 8 feet on 17, dropping a stroke from her lead with Lewis and Pressel on the final hole and Yang waiting and hoping to make a playoff.

Jutanugarn’s drive on the final hole went into the left rough and her second shot didn’t make the green but landed above the bunker.

There was plenty of drama but no ending collapse this time. Last month in the ANA Inspiration, she had a two-stroke lead with three holes left and closed with three bogeys to finish fourth _ two strokes behind winner Lydia Ko in the major championship. In the 2013 LPGA Thailand at age 17, Jutanugarn blew a two-stroke lead with a closing triple bogey in a one-stroke loss to Inbee Park.

She handled the pressure from an array of challengers better this time.

“This tournament was very different than ANA,” Jutanugarn said. “Because first hole of this tournament I’m very excited and very nervous because I (have a) three-shot lead, and ANA one shot behind.”

Pressel had drained a birdie putt on 18 to remain in contention, pumping her fist as the ball rolled toward the hole. Lewis saved par after planting her tee shot into the left rough, some 180 yards from the hole.

Caroline Hedwall was fifth at 12 under after a 68. The 19-year-old Minjee Lee, who won at Hawaii last month, was among four players three strokes back after a roller-coaster 72. She was 4 over through the first four holes, including a double bogey on the fourth _ and added another double on 17. She eagled the par-5 10th and had four birdies.

Yang started a string of four birdies on No. 2 and got another one on 8 before losing a stroke with a bogey.

Yang parred the final hole following a bogey-birdie-bogey stretch. She landed in the rough on 17 and then had to take a drop after sending her next shot into hip-high grass.

“I went for it (on 17), didn’t think left side, it was going to bounce to the left,” she said. “I just wanted to chip it right on the green, or short of it, but I hit it a little thin and went in the hazard but, you know, oh well.”

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Jesper Parnevik won the Insperity Invitational for his first PGA Tour Champions victory, shooting a 5-under 67 for a four-stroke victory Sunday.

The 51-year-old Swede won in his 23rd career start on the 50-and-over tour. The five-time PGA Tour winner finished at 12-under 204 at The Woodlands Country Club.

Local favourite Jeff Maggert, first-round leader Mike Goodes and South Africa’s David Frost tied for second. Maggert, a Woodlands resident and former Texas A&M player, had a 71. Frost shot 69, and Goodes 70.

Canada’s Stephen Ames tied for 12th at 3 under after a 73.

John Daly tied for 17th with a group which included  Canada’s Rod Spittle at 2 under in his PGA Tour Champions debut. The two-time major champion closed with a 71 after opening with rounds of 70 and 73. He turned 50 on April 28.

GREENWOOD, S.C. – Canadian Lorie Kane won the Self-Regional Women’s Health Classic, edging out runner-up Michelle McGann of Florida in a Legends Tour event played simultaneously with the Symetra Tour.

Kane carded a one-under score of 71 in the 18-hole event to clip McGann, who finished at even-par 72 at The Links at Stoney Point.

“I’m excited because I’m playing good golf,” said Kane, who opened the round with a bogey, but answered with birdies on holes 2 and 3.

The PEI native birdied No. 7 and made the nine-hole turn at two under, taking a two-shot lead into the back nine.

After struggling in the wind and ballooning to two over on the front nine, McGann fought back with three birdies and a bogey on the back nine holes to briefly hold a clubhouse lead.

Kane had her own problems on the par-4 11th hole when her 5-iron approach shot hit the green’s top tier, spun and rolled all the way back off the green. She three-putted for bogey, but countered with a birdie from five feet on the par-3 13th hole.

“That was a scary, downhill putt,” she said of the birdie on No. 13. “I used all of the cup.”
Kane’s final hiccup came on the last hole, where she drove into a fairway bunker, flew the 18th green, chipped and missed a 10-foot putt for par. Even with a bogey, she was able to salvage the win.

“I’m just trying to play and have fun,” said Kane, who has four LPGA wins and four wins on The Legends Tour.

“I hit the ball as hard as I can and if I make a putt, great, and if I don’t, it’s not the end of the world. I was telling some of the Symetra Tour players I wish I had thought that way six or eight years ago.”

Legends Tour members Cindy Figg-Currier, Christa Johnson and Cathy Johnston-Forbes tied for third, each at 2-over 74, while Barb Mucha and Kris Tschetter tied for sixth at 3-over 75.

Twenty-four members of the Legends Tour played the inaugural 18-hole tournament alongside Symetra Tour players during their final round.

Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden won the Symetra Tour’s event with a final-round score of 2-over 74 and a 72-hole total of 10-under 278.

For complete Legends Tour results, click here.
For more information on The Legends Tour, visit www.thelegendstour.com.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — It might have been a bit of a frustrating 73.

It might have been a smile-inspiring 67.

Under the desert sun at Mission Hills at the ANA Inspiration, Brooke Henderson, with sister Brittany on the bag, experienced both at the first major of the golf season.

The results on the course may vary, but not the constant for the Henderson girls: the smile from mom Darlene when they walked off the 18th green and across the bridge over Poppie’s Pond.

Darlene was there making her way around the course to root her daughters on to another top 10 finish. She made her way from tree to tree, pausing in the shade to check on the girls’ progress, all the while accepting greetings from fellow Canadians, gushing with pride.

Darlene and husband Dave spent three weeks on the road with Brooke and Brittany as they drove across the U.S. southwest (in a sweet ride, a BMW 7 Series, one of Brooke’s corporate partners) for the LPGA’s tour through Phoenix and Southern California and to the desert.

It’s not just on Mother’s Day that Brooke appreciates what her mom has done to help her on her remarkable journey which has seen the 18-year-old rise to become the fifth-ranked player in the Rolex World Rankings.

“We owe a lot to our mom, both Britt and I, for everything that she’s sacrificed and everything that she’s done for us,” Henderson said. “She’s our No. 1 fan and our No. 1 support system. We love having her on trips and even when she’s back home, we can always count on her for a late night text or anything like that.

“We’re grateful for everything she does and what she continues to do.”

No matter how it’s gone on the course, Brooke said things don’t change when it comes to your mom.

“You’re still No. 1 in her heart,” she said.

Over behind the ninth green at Mission Hills, just after completing a fine opening round 70 in very windy conditions, Hamilton’s Alena Sharp reflected on a similar theme.

She doesn’t get to see her mother, Pat, a nurse back in Hamilton, often enough, but knows the support is there.

“My mom has been there from Day One. She would always take me to soccer practice, hockey practice, golf. She’s a big part of my career,” said Sharp. “I saw her a couple of weeks ago. I just don’t get to see my parents that much so it’s nice to spend time with them when I can.

“My mom’s been amazing, always there no matter what, whether it’s good or bad. She’s there with me when I’m crying because I’m frustrated and is there when I’ve played well. It’s nice to have that support.”

Has Alena inherited any qualities from Pat?

“She’s got a lot of patience. That’s huge. She’s a nurse. She’s forty years in nursing and going to retire this year. She has a lot of patience. She doesn’t let things get to her too much. That’s a huge thing that I see. She always goes out of her way to make you happy. If you need something, she’s going to do her best to get it for you.”

So, did that patience rub off?

Said Sharp, “I try to be patient.”

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