I Wouldn’t Be Here Without Her”: Brooke Henderson Opens Up on How Her Sister Changed Her Career Forever
In the high-pressure world of professional golf, few stories are as heartwarming as that of Brooke Henderson and her older sister, Brittany. The Canadian LPGA star, one of the most accomplished golfers in her country’s history, has repeatedly credited Brittany not just as her caddie, but as the pivotal force behind her entire career. In a recent reflection, Brooke poignantly stated, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without her,” underscoring a bond that transcends the fairways and has shaped her journey from a young amateur to a two-time major champion.
Brooke Henderson, born in 1997 in Smiths Falls, Ontario, burst onto the scene as a prodigious talent. She turned professional at just 17 in late 2014, after reaching the No. 1 spot in the world amateur rankings. Her rise was meteoric: At 18, she won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2016, becoming the youngest winner in the event’s history and defeating the then-world No. 1 Lydia Ko in a playoff. That victory marked the first of her two majors, with the second coming at the 2022 Evian Championship. By 2025, Henderson had amassed 14 LPGA Tour wins, making her the most victorious Canadian golfer on major professional tours.
But behind every swing and every trophy stands Brittany Henderson, seven years Brooke’s senior. The sisters’ story begins in their childhood, where golf was a family affair. Their father, Dave, a former teacher and avid golfer, coached both daughters, while their mother, Darlene, provided unwavering support. Brittany, a talented player in her own right—Quebec junior champion, four-time All-Big South selection at Coastal Carolina University, and later inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame—paved the way. As a young girl, Brooke idolized her big sister, chasing her to the golf course from the age of three. Brooke has often shared that without Brittany pursuing golf competitively, she might never have fallen in love with the sport herself.
Brittany’s own professional career took her to the Symetra Tour (now Epson Tour) after college in 2013. Around the same time, she began caddying part-time for Brooke, balancing her playing ambitions with supporting her rapidly ascending sibling. The turning point came in 2015 when Brooke claimed her first LPGA victory at the Cambia Portland Classic—with a family friend on the bag, as Brittany was competing elsewhere. That win convinced Brittany she didn’t want to miss another milestone. She made the profound sacrifice of stepping away from her own pro dreams to become Brooke’s full-time caddie.
The results speak for themselves. Brittany has been on the bag for 13 of Brooke’s 14 LPGA titles, including both majors. Their partnership is one of the longest and most successful player-caddie duos on the tour. On the course, Brittany provides more than yardage and club selection; she’s a calming presence during tense moments, offering encouragement, strategic insight, or simply silence when needed. Brooke has described her sister as integral to her success, especially in high-stakes situations: “I depend on her a ton, especially down the stretch when things get a little bit tense. She’s always there for me.”
Off the course, the sisters are inseparable best friends, traveling the world together and sharing experiences that few siblings get to enjoy. Their similar looks—blonde ponytails and matching Skechers shoes—often make them hard to tell apart from a distance. This closeness has created a unique dynamic, blending professional precision with familial trust. As Brooke puts it, growing up looking up to Brittany made golf a way to bond as a family, and having her sister by her side every step of the way remains “extra special.”
In 2025, their bond proved unbreakable once more when Brooke ended a two-year winless drought by capturing the CPKC Women’s Open on home soil in Canada—her second national title, a feat no other woman had achieved. With Brittany on the bag, Brooke closed with a flawless round, emotional but composed, proving yet again the power of their partnership.
Brooke Henderson’s career is a testament to talent, hard work, and resilience. But as she openly acknowledges, it’s also a story of sisterly love and sacrifice. Brittany didn’t just carry the bag—she carried Brooke’s dreams, changing her career forever. In a sport often defined by individual glory, the Henderson sisters remind us that some of the greatest victories are shared.
