Brooke Henderson beats Lydia Ko in playoff to win 1st major title at Women’s PGA

Lydia Ko was cruising toward a third straight major title on Sunday when she ran into a speed bump in the form of Brooke Henderson.

Ko, 19, missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole of regulation at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to get into a sudden-death playoff with her 18-year-old budding rival, whose final-round 6-under 65 was the low score of the tournament.

Ko, after a final-round 67, was first to play from the fairway on No. 18, the first extra frame. She left herself a birdie putt of some 25 feet and when her attempt slid by, so did her chance for victory because Henderson -- in tight with her second shot -- buried a virtual tap-in.

Ko may have the “youngest ever to win a major” category sewn up, but Henderson became the youngest to capture the Women’s PGA (the former “LPGA Championship”). Both teenagers went bogey-free in the finale at Sahalee Country Club as Ko was her usual consistent self.

But Henderson had the shot of the tournament and the one that turned the tide and gave her the first of what could be many major titles when she bombed in a 90-foot eagle from off the green at the par-5 11th.

The eagle cut Ko’s lead down to one stroke and Henderson finally caught up to the 54-hole leader with a huge birdie on No. 17.

“It was a pretty good day for me,” Henderson said after lifting the trophy. “I really didn’t feel a ton of pressure or a ton of nerves … I’m kind of speechless.”

While Ko’s bid to win three straight majors fell short, the women’s game still got a huge boost from one of the most promising young talents taking it with that brilliant approach shot on top of the flag in a playoff.