Brooke Henderson won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship on Sunday, becoming the event's youngest winner and the first Canadian woman to win a major championship since Sandra Post in 1968.Henderson, who climbed to No. 2 in the world rankings with the victory, also became the second-youngest winner in a major championship. Lydia Ko, the top-ranked female golfer whom Henderson beat Sunday, is the youngest after winning last year's Evian Championship in France.The 18-year-old Henderson began the final day of the tournament at even-par, trailing Ko by two strokes. Henderson and Ko went toe-to-toe in an intense affair until the 17th hole where the Canadian pulled even with a 35-foot birdie putt, setting up a playoff on the par-4 18th hole.After Ko missed, sending her second shot 20 feet from the final hole, Henderson placed her shot within three feet of the hole with a brilliant stroke from 155 yards out. She then tapped the ball in to make history and win the first major championship of her career."This might be like winning the Stanley Cup for me," Henderson said on the same day the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched the actual Stanley Cup. "This, or Olympic gold."
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Henderson, fast becoming one of golf's biggest stars, finished the tournament with a bogey-free 6-under 65 and two shots ahead of Ko. The Smith Falls, Ontario, native is expected to represent Canada at the Rio Olympics, when golf makes its return to the Summer Games for the first time in over 100 years."I like to say I am the face of Canadian women's golf. And I like to say I am a good athlete for Canada," said Henderson, the Canadian Press' female athlete of the year for 2015. "I'm looking forward to the rest of the summer. There's still three major championships left. I'd like to get my name on all three of those. But I won't get ahead of myself here."Wow! I am Blessed to add my name to this trophy! Figured this was the proper celebration pic! — Brooke Henderson (@BrookeHenderson)June 13, 2016