It's been 48 years since a Canadian last won an LPGA major championship, but the similarities between Brooke Henderson and Sandra Post are hard to miss.
The 18-year-old Henderson won her first major title on Sunday by beating Lydia Ko on the first hole of a playoff at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. The Smiths Falls, Ont., native also became the first Canadian woman since Post to capture a major championship.
"I think a little bit of fearless and believing in yourself," Post said of the similarities between her and Henderson in a phone interview. "She really believes in herself and I believed in myself.
"And I think we both know how to score. We didn't think it had to be perfect all the time but we just knew how to make a number and that's how she plays and it's kind of refreshing to watch, that it's not always looks perfect but the number at the end looks pretty good."
Like Henderson, Post also won her first major in a playoff, downing Kathy Whitworth by seven strokes in 1968 to become the first non-U.S. player and rookie to win the LPGA championship.
Post won eight LPGA events over her career and was elected to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1988. The Oakville, Ont., native also received the Order of Canada in 2003.
The 68-year-old Post watched Henderson throughout the entire tournament and says that the turning point for the teenager came during her opening round on Thursday.
"I think the first sign was her hole in one the first day," Post said. "When she hung on over the weekend when it was rainy and the conditions were really tough, she really hung tough on Friday and Saturday, but the first sign that maybe her week was the hole in one. And the next sign was maybe when she made that eagle today.
"Sometimes there are signs when you watch golf as long as I have that it says this is your week and to me those were the indicators."
Henderson drained a 90-foot eagle putt at the 11th to help her jump into second place. She finished with the best round of the week at Sahalee Country Club at 6-under 65.
Henderson is the second-youngest player to win a major championship in LPGA history behind only Ko. She said after her round that she knows Post a little bit and has gotten to talk to her on multiple occasions, including Post wishing her good luck leading into the Women's PGA Championship.
"She had an incredible career and was definitely huge for Canadian golf, especially women's Canadian golf," Henderson said. "It's nice to be right up there with her."
Post believes that the future is bright for Henderson.
"I've said this before, she will surpass my record," Post said. "I think she'll go running by my record and I think it's gonna be fun to watch."
"It's been 48 years since I won, so I wish it would have happened sooner, but better late than never and what a great gal to finally pass this torch to."
