Brooke Henderson leads Olympic golf team to Rio

By Callum Ng

It's official. Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp, David Hearn, and Graham DeLaet are the golfers set to represent Canada in Rio, Golf Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Tuesday.  

The four booked their tickets based on securing a top-60 spot on the Olympic golf rankings, which were finalized on July 11.

Henderson, 18, is Canada's top entry, occupying the No. 2 seed on the Olympic rankings behind New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko. Henderson is also No. 2, again behind Ko, on the women's world golf rankings. The Smith Falls, Ont. native, won the Women's PGA Championship in June and closed out the month by defending her title at the Cambia Portland Classic.

Henderson has done it with length, solid approach shots and by taking advantage of opportunities. She's averaging over 265 yards per drive this season and leads the Tour in birdies.

"I think she's fiercely competitive," Canadian women's team coach Tristan Mullally told the Canadian Press. "I think you see the smiles, you see this young girl who's out there and really having fun. But she's always been competitive."

Teammate Alena Sharp, 35, had her best finish in 2016 at the recent NW Arkansas Championship where she finished tied for eighth. The Hamilton, Ont., native has two top-11 finishes in her past four events. Sharp is ranked 31st for Rio and 85th in the world.

"Growing up you watch the Olympics and being into golf, there was no chance to be an Olympian," said Sharp. "When it was announced it was something very important to me to be able to represent Canada and go down to Rio."

On the men's side, 37-year-old David Hearn, of Brantford, Ont., is ranked No. 35, a few spots ahead of Weyburn, Sask.'s Graham DeLaet, 34, who comes in at No. 40. 

Both men are entered in this week's Canadian Open, which was the site of Tuesday's announcement, at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. On the world golf rankings, Hearn is 130th while DeLaet is No. 140. 

"Up until a few years ago I never really thought I'd ever have the chance to be an Olympian," said DeLaet at the event. "Even just saying that and the closer and closer we get to Rio the more it's kind of sinking in. It's a pretty special opportunity, there's no question."

Rio will be the first Olympic golf tournament in 112 years. Canadian George Lyon won the last men's tournament at St. Louis in 1904, and it was four years earlier in Paris where the most recent women's tournament was held. 

The men's event has been plagued by over 20 withdrawals, with top golfers such as Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, and Jason Day all dropping out. The main concern has been health-related, with many golfers citing the Zika risk.

With files from The Canadian Press