Brooke Henderson wins brand new Kia for hole-in-one, gives to sister

SAMMAMISH, Wash. — Awarding a car for a hole-in-one is a pretty routine practice on the professional golf tours.

For the last year or so, whenever they have walked onto the par-3 hole on the LPGA Tour where a new set of wheels is up for grabs, Brooke Henderson has turned to her sister/caddie Brittany and said, “‘see that car? If I get it, it’s yours.’”

Brittany hasn’t had a car since Brooke was in a fender bender while driving Brittany’s old Honda and it could not be revived last year.

Brooke, the fourth-ranked player in the world, didn’t say it this week when they walked onto the tee of the 152-yard 13th hole at the Sahalee Country Club where they are playing the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the second major of the LPGA season.

So, when Brooke’s 7-iron shot Thursday morning started left of the hole and was looking like it might miss the green, Brittany probably wasn’t thinking about the 2016 Kia K900 that was sitting on a stage behind the tee.

But then the ball hit on the apron of the green, kicked right and rolled into the hole for an ace, the fourth of 18-year-old Brooke’s career.

“I didn’t say it this week, but she ends up getting it,” said Brooke of the Kia which has a manufacturer’s suggest retail price starting at $49,000 US.

“She’s told me that earlier in the year at a different tournament,” said Brittany, who’s fully exempt on the developmental Symetra Tour, but has opted to caddie for Brooke this year. “I didn’t know if it still applied. As soon as we figured out it was the car hole, she mentioned it again. We’ll see. I’m waiting until I actually have the keys. I told her ‘no take backs.’

“I don’t have (a car),” said Brittany, “so I’m really excited.”

The hole-in-one helped Brooke to a 4-under par 67 and a two-shot lead with the afternoon draw heading out onto the course.

“Yeah, it was a pretty good day today. The hole-in-one was awesome,” said Brooke. “I pulled my shot a little bit, caught the left apron and followed right into the hole. It’s my fourth (hole-in-one). And it ended up being the car hole. And 4-under today, so it was a good start.”