Canadian Pacific Women’s Open
Vancouver Golf Club
Coquitlam, B.C., Canada
Tuesday Pre-Tournament Notes
August 18, 2015
Back in 2012, 14-year-old Brooke Henderson made her first LPGA start at Vancouver Golf Club in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Now, three years later, the event will be Henderson’s first as a card carrying member of the LPGA Tour.
“It’s still a little bit surreal right now, but the last couple days have been an amazing ride and an amazing journey, and I’m glad I was able to finish it off on Sunday,” Henderson said. “I’ve been close a couple times earlier in the year, and to finally get the win and get my membership is unbelievable.”
Henderson, who is currently ranked No. 17 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, petitioned LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan following her win at the Cambia Portland Classic. Henderson will compete in this week’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open as a member of the LPGA Tour and any money that she earns during the remainder of the 2015 LPGA Tour season will be considered official money. The remainder of the 2015 season will also be considered her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
“I’m very thankful to Commissioner Mike Whan and all the LPGA for all their support over the last couple of months, and especially to start living my dream out here on the LPGA Tour,” Henderson said. “I’m still going to play my own game and still go out there and do what I’ve always done, but just to know that I have a place to play now any week that I want to, and I’ll have full status for at least a full year now is really exciting. Getting to play this week and Alabama next week, and I’m playing really well right now, so hopefully I can keep it going.”
With her victory in Portland, Henderson has now earned $661,264 in unofficial money in her 10 events on the LPGA this year, which would put her 14th on the Tour’s money list.
“In my dreams, yes,” Henderson said when asked if she thought she would be this successful on Tour so soon. “I have big goals and big dreams ahead of me, and I’m still a long way from where I want to be, but it’s pretty cool to know that I am right in there against and competing against the best in the world, and I think if I can just continue to improve and to get better every day, hopefully good things will happen.”
Henderson will look to put a cherry on top of a great week with a victory at her country’s national championship.
“That would be amazing and definitely a goal of mine,” Henderson said. “I think it’s possible. My game is in a great spot, and as long as I can stay focused and determined over the next couple days, because they have been pretty busy and pretty long back home in Canada, but I think if I can get a solid game plan together and go out there and play my game on Thursday, it could happen.”
STATEMENT FROM LPGA COMMISSIONER MICHAEL WHAN ON BROOKE HENDERSON BEING GRANTED LPGA TOUR MEMBERSHIP:
“After reviewing Brooke Henderson’s petition, I have granted her LPGA Tour membership beginning immediately. 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.”
Per LPGA policy, there will be no further comment from the LPGA on Henderson’s petition.
LORIE KANE HAPPY TO CEDE TITLE OF LAST CANADIAN TO WIN ON LPGA
Prior to Brooke Henderson’s victory last week at the Cambia Portland Classic, Lorie Kane was last Canadian to win on Tour back at the 2001 LPGA Takefuji Classic.
“it’s very exciting, and I knew it was only going to be a matter of time before that happened,” Kane said. “I’m glad she’s now an official member of the Tour. Her win last week was exciting, and it brought me back to 15 years ago, St. Louis, when I won my first tournament, and all those feelings were -- I didn’t win by eight shots, but maybe three or four, and I know I bogeyed the last hole. But watching her and her sheer determination, it was just fantastic.”
Kane will be in the field this week at the CP Women’s Open competing alongside Henderson and 12 of her fellow countrywomen and is looking forward to another great week at Vancouver Golf Club.
“This is my home away from home. I spent a lot of time here as an amateur playing golf at Shaughnessy and being under our national team program at that time,” Kane explained. “And then my ambassadorship with CP and helping them do what they do best, and that’s give lots of charitable dollars and encourage others to do the same to the BC Children’s Foundation.”
NOT THE TYPICAL WEEK FOR INKSTER
This week is far from typical for Juli Inkster. While she may be teeing it up at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open for the ninth time of her career, Inkster’s focus will likely be drastically split between her play and the play of the other Americans in the field. That’s what happens when you are the U.S. Solheim Cup captain and this week is the final week for players to earn their spots on this year’s team.
“You know, I’ve got to go with my gut and go with who I think is going to fit in best with the team and what we need in the team,” Inkster explained. “It’s never fun to disappoint anybody, so it is going to be a tough week for me.”
On Monday night, Inkster will announce her 12-player U.S. Solheim Cup team to the world during a one-hour live Golf Central special on Golf Channel from 7-8 p.m. EST. Eight players will earn their spots via the Solheim Cup points list and the next two highest ranked players in the Rolex Rankings will also qualify for the squad. But it’s the two captain’s picks that likely will be causing Inkster the most stress.
“It’s going to be hard,” Inkster admitted. “There’s a lot of girls playing well right now, and I only have two picks. It’s going to be tough. I’m not looking forward to it. I’m already stressing out about it.”
The 2015 Solheim Cup will be held at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot in Germany September 18th -20th.
Below is a breakdown of when players will be announced to their respective teams.
European Team
August 9: First four players confirmed from LET points list following the conclusion of the Tipsport Golf Masters in the Czech Republic.
August 24: Next four players confirmed from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
August 25: Captain Carin Koch announces her four captains’ picks live on the Sky Sports Sportswomen TV show, from 11.30am-12.00pm BST.
United States Team
August 24: Captain Juli Inkster will announce her team, including the 10 qualifiers and her two captains’ picks, during a one hour Golf Central special on Golf Channel from 7-8 p.m. EST (12am-1am BST) live from Golf Channel’s Orlando studios.)
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