Latest teen sensation, Brooke Henderson, will tee off at Shore

GALLOWAY, N.J. - The number of talented teens who have found a home with the LPGA in recent years has been impressive, from Michelle Wie to Morgan Pressel to Paula Creamer to Lexi Thompson to Lydia Ko.

Now on the tee is the latest teenager in that talented chain: Brooke Henderson, 17, who had committed to play college golf starting this fall at Florida until her summer of 2014 - low amateur at the U.S. Women's Open, runner-up in the U.S. Women's Amateur, No. 1 in the world amateur rankings - prompted her to turn pro in December.

Henderson, who hails from Smiths Falls, Ontario, about a five-hour drive from Toronto, will make her ShopRite LPGA Classic debut Friday on a sponsor's exemption, one of six she is allowed to take while she waits for Sept. 10, when she turns 18 and becomes eligible to earn full-time tour status.

"When I was a little girl, I always dreamed of playing on the LPGA Tour and making a living out here and playing golf every single day," Henderson said Wednesday. "It was a long-term goal. When I was 14, I won my first professional event and became the youngest player ever to do that. And I think right then I thought it was more realistic and more possible."

"I worked really hard since then. Even now I don't have my full tour card, but I'm still striving to be the best that I can be and hopefully have my full status next year on tour."

Henderson is on schedule to do that without having to play in the LPGA qualifying tournament. In just four events, she has won almost $172,000, which would put her at 29th on the money list if she were a tour member. If she finishes with the equivalent of what the 40th-ranked player has won in earnings by year's end, she could avoid Q-school completely.

Her opportunities, however, are limited. She has six exemptions. She has played in two events after Monday qualifying. She is exempt into the U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club and another major, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

"Finishing in the top 40 would be a hard task, especially playing only 10 events this year," she said. "Hopefully, I'll play a couple more Monday qualifiers, but it looks like 10. Every week I have to play really well and try and climb up the leader board, especially on Sundays, to get a good check.

"I think if I play my game and play how I know I can, it's definitely a very realistic goal. But golf is a funny game."

Her top finish was a tie for third at the Swinging Skirts event last month in San Francisco, where she finished a stroke out of a playoff.

Henderson's older sister, Brittany, competes on the Symetra Tour. Brooke caddied for Brittany on Monday during an unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the ShopRite. Brittany will be on her sister's bag when this week's competition begins.

Brooke Henderson was 3 when she first picked up a club while watching her father teach her sister how to play.

"She was playing a lot, and I wanted to be out there, too," she said.

It has been a whole new life for Henderson on the tour - the travel, the galleries, playing alongside the world's top players. It has been a learning experience, and she loves what she's doing.

"I've been very blessed and grateful for the opportunities that I've been given over the last couple of weeks," she said. "It's unbelievable where I am right now, but I know that I'm really a long way from where I want to be, and I've got to work hard to get there."

Where: Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, Galloway Township, N.J.

When: Friday-Sunday.

Course: (6,155 yards, par 71).

Purse: $1.5 million. Winner's share: $225,000.

TV: Golf Channel (Friday, 1-3:30 p.m.; Saturday, 3-6 p.m.; Sunday, 3-6 p.m.)

- Associated Press

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