Eighteen-year-old golfer Brooke Henderson is "becoming the LPGA's 'It' girl," but rather than "looking at her exploding popularity as infringing on her personal time, Henderson has been embracing it," according to Chris Stevenson in a special to the OTTAWA SUN. Henderson won the Cambia Portland Classic last year and enters the ANA Inspiration, the tour's first major of the year that begins today, ranked No. 7 in the world. She said, "If you get attention it’s either you’re doing something really right or you’re doing something really wrong. At this point I think I’m doing things pretty well." Stevenson notes the "corporate world hasn't taken long to see the value in associating themselves with Henderson." She has deals with RBC, BMW Canada and apparel maker Sunice, and she "confirmed a deal with BioSteel sports nutrition products" is scheduled to be announced today. Henderson plays Ping golf clubs, and company Chair & CEO John Solheim "gushed about how happy he was to have Henderson playing his company’s equipment." She also is a "fresh, bright face for the LPGA." Tour Chief Communications Officer Kraig Kann said, "You can’t teach smile.” He added, "I’m fascinated by Brooke Henderson, to be honest with you. I think she does the right things, she says the right things and she carries herself in a way that would make me as a father or parent proud or as a fan be engaged in wanting to watch her" (OTTAWA SUN, 3/31).
LOOKING FOR A RIVAL: In S.F., Ron Kroichick writes the LPGA is "still struggling" to find its place on the sporting landscape, and a rival for No. 1-ranked player Lydia Ko -- "ideally an American rival, to generate interest in the United States -- would help." South Korean Inbee Park has "done all she can," having won six majors in the past three years. However, she "doesn't really resonate among U.S. fans, and it will be difficult for her to change that." Lexi Thompson and Michelle Wie could fit that, but the "best story lines don't always unfold the way we expect." Kroichick: "The women's game needs some of its promising American players to find their mojo. Soon" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/31).
