Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson goes for the green by turning pro at 17

While most Grade 12 students were making plans for holiday get-togethers, Brooke Henderson had something far more pressing on her mind: her career.

The 17-year-old Smiths Falls, Ont., golf sensation announced Thursday that she was forgoing university and turning pro, a decision that took up most of December. It instantly made her the top-ranked Canadian on the LPGA tour.

Granted, she has 222 golfers ahead of her, but considering that she played in only seven official events last season, that's a pretty impressive accomplishment.

“This is a real exciting day for me," Henderson said in a media conference call. ``I’m turning pro and starting to live the dream that I have had my whole life to do. I’m excited to compete against the best players in the world on the LPGA tour.

“This was a huge decision and we) didn’t take it lightly, but I know we have made the right decision. … I’m ready to turn pro."

Though some might question the wisdom of competing against hardened veterans instead of honing her game at the University of Florida, there doesn't seem to be much doubt that Henderson is ready.

Her decision comes after a magical season that saw her impress golf fans across the world in both amateur and professional events. The list was a pretty long one.

She was the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world. She led Canada to second place in the women’s world amateur team championships in Japan by winning the individual title. She was runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur championship. On the pro tour, she tied for 10th and was low amateur at the Women’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst, N.C.

She also won the PGA of Canada women’s championship. In addition, she made the cut at four of the seven LPGA events she entered -- a solid number even for a seasoned pro.

Had she been old enough to turn pro, she would have won more than $100,000 in 2014 -- something that no doubt helped her sign a deal with sports giant IMG.  She also has sponsorship deals with PING and the Ottawa Senators. She will also continue to get support from Golf Canada, which provides financial support to golfers in their first few years as pros.

“Last season was a big confidence booster for me in many ways," she said.

Ya think?

But it's not as if 2014 was some sort of outlier. Henderson has won wherever and whenever she has played since bursting on the international scene three years ago. She has racked up more than 50 career victoriesHer career resumé includes more than 50 victories as an amateur and a third in a pro-level tournament in 2012, when she was just 14.

Henderson, who is off to Florida to do some work on her game this winter, will be back in Canada for the women's Open and possibly as a member of Canada's Pan Am Games team.

It promises to be a big homecoming.