Brooke Henderson’s – Brooke Henderson begins the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship with a 3-under 69 after her sister Brittany gave birth to a daughter, Sahalee, just before 5 a.m. ET. Henderson, tied in the hunt after a comeback, credits the “wonderful time” at home and keeps her foc
Brooke Henderson’s Thursday morning started with a baby cry—then a tee time. Just before 5 a.m. ET, her sister Brittany gave birth to a daughter, Sahalee, and Henderson arrived at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship with a special reason to feel hopeful for the opening round.
The name Sahalee carries meaning that runs deeper than family tradition. It translates to “high heavenly grounds,” and it also matches the golf course where Henderson won her first major—the first tournament the sisters won together as caddie and player.
When Henderson stepped onto the course, she had already been thinking about her family’s next big week. “I’m just so happy for my sister and brother-in-law and the whole family,” Henderson said. “It’s such an exciting, wonderful time. And my sister and the baby are doing really well, healthy, and really excited to see her next week.”.
On the course, Henderson’s round didn’t come out smooth at first. She began by sitting at 1 over after her first six holes. including a miss on a nine-footer for par at the par-3 4th. But the comeback arrived quickly. Over a nine-hole stretch, she rolled in four birdies, turning the momentum in her favor.
She nearly carried it farther late. On her final three holes, she came up just short of three birdie chances—missing from 9 feet, 12 feet, and 15 feet, respectively. Even with those late misses, Henderson still sounded satisfied with the way her day settled.
For a player who has faced struggles on the LPGA Tour this year, the opening round mattered. Henderson entered Thursday sitting 103rd in first-round scoring average. but the Women’s PGA Championship is the lone major where she has never missed the cut. After a 3-under 69. she found herself “squarely in the mix. ” and the timing of the good news back home gave the performance an extra lift.
The field’s early standard was set by Ina Yoon, who shot a 9-under 63 to tie the lowest opening round in tournament history. Henderson acknowledged the reality of the leaderboard gap, but she framed it as work rather than pressure.
“Felt like my ball striking was in a really good spot today so hit a lot of greens and gave myself a lot of good birdie looks. which is always really fun. especially at major championship and on a tough golf course. ” Henderson said. “Really happy with the 3-under. Ina was on fire. I have some work to do to try to catch her, but I’m really happy with my round overall.”.
The week also has a family storyline running through it. Henderson has managed only one top-10 finish this season. at the first event of the year—the lone event in which Brittany caddied for her before stepping away to focus on motherhood. Still. Henderson’s history at this major has been strong. and Thursday morning’s birth turned that confidence into something tangible.
“What a way to start the week,” Henderson said. “Perfect start to get under par, hear my niece was born and doing very well, 10-year anniversary of when I won at Sahalee in 2016. Great day overall and hopefully carry that through the rest of the weekend.”
Brooke Henderson Women’s PGA Championship KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Brittany Henderson Sahalee Ina Yoon LPGA Tour major championship golf tournament
Baby at 5am then golf, that’s insane.
So she’s 3-under after her sister had the baby like… that’s the whole story? Kinda feels like luck tho. I guess the “high heavenly grounds” name is supposed to help??
Wait her sister gave birth “just before 5 a.m. ET” and then she still played and was tied? I’m not even sure I read it right. But I saw the part about her missing a par putt and then she started birdie-ing? Like momentum is real I guess, but also that late missed stuff (9, 12, 15 feet) sounds stressful.
The name Sahalee is what, like heaven hills or whatever and it’s the course she won her first major at? That’s a cool story but I don’t buy it automatically means she’ll win the whole thing. She was 1 over early and then suddenly birdies—could’ve just been the greens that day. Also LPGA stuff is confusing, they say she “keeps her form” but then mention “struggles” like right before, so which is it? Either way congrats to the family.