SMITHS FALLS, Ont. — Brooke Henderson’s first day-to-day manager when she signed with global representation behemoth IMG, Gabe Codding, was filling up his rental car after visiting the Canadian wunderkind for the first time and says, with a laugh, he felt like he was going to die because of the cold. Now the director of marketing at the City of Rancho Mirage in California, Codding lives in the literal desert. He, of course, doesn’t own a real winter jacket, nor a hat, nor a scarf.
Codding was more prepared for his next visit as Henderson began her march to stardom as this country’s best young golfer. The wintertime is always special for Henderson, who grew up playing hockey and still loves Christmas on the lake with her family, but less so for Codding.
Dec. 18, specifically, is a date neither will forget. This year, that particular day marks the 10-year anniversary of Henderson announcing she was turning professional.
And a star was born.
For so many, Henderson is still a kid. Just 27, with plenty more to come in the future as a “big star” of the LPGA Tour, says outgoing commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. Looking back, a celebrated golfing lifetime has already happened.
Henderson has the most wins of any Canadian on either the LPGA Tour or PGA Tour with 13 — including two majors — and all that’s left is for her to add to that total. It’s no longer hyperbolic to say Henderson is this country’s greatest golfer ever. Whatever the number of victories she ends her career with will likely never be topped.
And if you look at recent golfers who, in 10 years or less on the LPGA Tour have at least 10 wins to their name, it’s iconic first name-only types — Nelly, Lexi, Lydia. Plus, Brooke.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Codding, a crack in his voice, told Sportsnet. “It’s actually really emotional. You just see people who carry a light and a kindness about them. Early on, I just really knew her from record and name and then when you meet her — there was just something there.”
