BELLEAIR, Fla. – For the first time in nearly two years, Brooke Henderson could look over to the gallery ropes and see her parents, Dave and Darlene, watch her compete in person at the Pelican LPGA Championship. Border restrictions between the U.S. and Canada changed on Monday for those who are vaccinated.
“It’s just kind of a comfort level,” said Brooke of their presence, adding that dad’s confirmation that she has the right line or position boosts her confidence.
With no ShotLink and limited television coverage, Thursday’s opening 3-under 67 marked the first time since January 2020 that Dave could see every shot and every decision his two daughters made during the course of a round.
“I’m good at learning how to score,” said Dave. “They were out of position a couple times today.”
Also in the gallery was Mike Miller, a Rochester, New York, resident who has now traveled to 50 LPGA events to watch Henderson. A longtime LPGA supporter, Miller first watched Henderson compete in 2015, and over time, has gone from superfan to family friend, even attending a hockey game with the family several years back.
One of the most popular players on the LPGA, “Brooke’s Brigade,” as Miller shows, certainly isn’t limited to Canadians. The 10-time LPGA winner is known for her aggressive style and length, making her one of the more entertaining players to follow. One of the ways she gets that extra pop is by choking down on a 48-inch driver.
“I started hitting a driver longer than 46 when I was 15,” she said, “and I’ve never looked back.”
Which is why a new local rule the U.S. Golf Association and R&A put forth in October that allows the option to limit the maximum length of a driver to 46 inches is of great interest to Henderson.
Last month, the LPGA told Golfweek in a statement that the tour planned to implement the new rule at some point after the 2021 season. After an in-person player meeting on Tuesday at the Pelican, however, the door is open to start a dialogue.
Brooke believes players should have more input in the decision. Dave agrees, saying the longer clubs bring more excitement to the tour.
“I think it takes skill to be able to hit it as well,” said Brooke.
At next week’s CME Group Tour Championship, there will be a club-testing area set up to check driver lengths. The tour will also begin to survey players about the potential changes.
With newly-elected board members in place – Stacy Lewis and Ally Ewing were voted in this week – nothing has been finalized. There was also discussion at the meeting about whether or not the LPGA will follow the PGA Tour’s lead in altering what’s allowed in green-reading books.
The Executive Leadership Team, Rules Committee, and Player Directors will ultimately make the call on both the driver length and green-reading books.
Last month the PGA Tour said in a statement that it planned to implement the Local Rule at the beginning of next year. A survey across the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, and Korn Ferry Tour found that a very small number of players have used or are currently using clubs longer than 46 inches. The new rule does not apply to putters.
Henderson said she has begun testing a 46-inch driver and “didn’t love it,” losing several yards. She would like to see the tour refrain from implementing the Model Local Rule, meaning she would likely only have to use a 46-inch driver at the U.S. Women’s Open and AIG Women’s British Open, where the rule will be enforced.
Henderson currently ranks ninth on the tour in driving distance at 273.8 yards.
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