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TSN Senior Reporter

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Really, it was just a matter of time, wasn't it? Brooke Henderson was on a collision path with victory on the LPGA Tour and on Sunday, she scored a direct hit, logging an eight-shot win at the Cambia Portland Classic.

She's 17 remember. Not old enough to drink the champagne that was poured over her after she holed the final putt. But clearly mature enough to deal with the head gremlins that can plague anyone who goes to Sunday with the lead.

It did seem inevitable that the Smiths Falls, Ont., product would get a win. Since turning pro in December, Henderson has won on the Sun Coast Tour and the Symetra Tour. She held the lead after three rounds of the LPGA Tour's Swinging Skirts Classic but wasn't able to close. Still, she's showed all year long her talent was there.

"I think my attitude into [Sunday] was a lot better than it was a couple months ago," she said. "I was just trying to keep going low and trying to push it to get even further under par, which I wouldn't have had that a couple months ago."

Henderson wasn't in the field of the tournament a week ago. She had to qualify on Monday to earn a spot. No Monday qualifier has won an event since 2000.

With a spot in the tournament, Henderson merely had to let her clubs do the talking.

"Everything was together, and even [Saturday] I was hitting the ball really well, and a couple shots that I didn't hit perfect, I mean, I got lucky bounces and had birdie putts and was able to make them both times," she stated.
Henderson's win is the first by a Canadian on the LPGA Tour since Lorie Kane back in 2001. And it was big news across the country extending beyond typical golf and sports media, into the mainstream.

"Well, the Canadian support has been unbelievable and the Canadian media have been really following me," said Henderson, who will turn 18 in September. "Even the last couple days, I received a lot of Twitter messages and text messages and emails, just cheering me on and wishing me the best. I'm sure my phone is blowing up pretty badly right now."

The way she's played this year, it's hard not to think that she has a huge upside – major championships, high up the world rankings (she's already 17th), money list titles, perhaps even a win at home, something that hasn't been done since Jocelyne Bourassa won La Canadienne back in 1973.

The timing of Henderson's win probably couldn't be better to accomplish that. She arrived in Vancouver late Sunday ahead of the Canadian Pacific Women's Open. She'll no doubt be front and centre all week.
 
And that may very well be the next part of maturing as a professional. With so much attention, lots of offers from media and sponsors – not just this week but in the coming months -- she'll need to learn how to say no. To ensure she reserves time for her game and her practice.

It's a lesson that every Canadian player from Mike Weir to Lorie Kane to Graham DeLaet has had to learn when they arrive home to play their respective national championships. Henderson missed the cut at the other LPGA Tour stop, the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.

Still, all the attention and adulation she'll get this week will be more than welcome.

"I think Canadian golf is really growing," Henderson said, "and there's a lot of great players coming up. But to get that and for Canadian fans and Canadian support that I've received over the last couple months and last couple years is unbelievable, so I'm happy to bring one home for Canada."

It appears Canada is set to continue that support, likely at an ever-increasing level.