When Brooke Henderson was Rose Zhang's age, her career was already in full swing

Brooke Henderson of Canada lines up her shot from the 16th tee during the third round of the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club.

Golfer Rose Zhang is having her “Hello World” moment and fans are rightfully blown away by the 20-year-old soon-to-be star. The freshly-minted pro is making her first professional start one to remember this week at the LPGA’s Mizuho America’s Open at Liberty National in New Jersey.

Women’s golf is no stranger to young prodigies taking the game by storm, and Canadian fans likely remember when Brooke Henderson burst on the scene in 2015. Henderson took a very different route to the game’s top level than two-time NCAA champ Zhang. In 2014, as the world’s No. 1 ranked amateur at age 16, the Smiths Falls, Ont., native opted to turn pro instead of heading to college, having already won more than 50 amateur events including the 2013 Canadian Women’s Amateur. Henderson had also finished runner-up in the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur, and earned a T10 at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open.

Shortly after turning pro, Henderson petitioned the LPGA for an age waiver to try her luck at LPGA Q-School before turning 18, but was denied. She responded by winning on the developmental Symetra Tour (now Epson Tour) in June 2015, earning membership to that tour. Two months later, she Monday qualified into the LPGA’s Cambia Portland Classic and went on to win her first LPGA title by an astounding eight strokes. After that first win, a 17-year-old Henderson said there was no hard feelings against then-LPGA Comissioner Mike Whan for denying her waiver.

“I think honestly it was the best thing that could have happened to me,” Henderson said that week. “It made me work really hard and be really dedicated and really focused. It made me really realize what I really wanted in life and what I really desired, and I think it was the best thing that could have happened.”

She was also asked if she drank any of the champagne that was popping following her inaugural win.

“No, not really,” she said at the time. “I can just smell it, though.”

When Henderson was Zhang’s age, she already had five LPGA wins and one major championship win under her belt. Still just 25 years old, yet somehow part way through her ninth LPGA season, Henderson now has 13 LPGA victories including two major championships (2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, 2022 Evian Championship).