The Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson is all set to tee off at the 2024 Chevron Championship this weekend. Although her recent form has been lacking, with a recent T48 at the HSBC Women’s Champions and a T26 at the Arizona Championship, she has shown signs of excellence in the past. She started this year strong, with a substantial third-place finish at the HGV Tournament of Champions, and is looking forward to carrying on with that form. Her posts on Instagram show her practicing for the championship, ready to face the first major of the season!

Although her life on the greens is filled with excitement and action, having made millions playing on the LPGA, she also has a fun private life! Henderson has mostly kept her private life private. The golf industry has been buzzing with rumors regarding the 26-year-old’s romantic situation, but she has been quiet, leaving her fans and followers to wonder who she might be dating in 2024.

Brooke Henderson might be dating a childhood friend

Neil Doef, the Canadian professional ice hockey player, is one name that has continuously linked to Brooke Henderson. Doef is a fellow resident of Smiths Falls in Canada. Born on 10th February 1997, the 27-year-old is an economics graduate from Princeton University.

The two allegedly started dating after being spotted together for the first time at the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June. The initial sighting of Henderson and Neil together in 2021 was followed by the couple sharing photos on their respective social media platforms, further solidifying the rumors of their relationship.

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However, this is not where the two first met. That would be in elementary school at the age of 5! They swiftly gained an appreciation for one another’s physical prowess as classmates at Chimo Elementary School, with Doef identifying Henderson’s skill even in their early school years. “You knew she was an athlete. She was always one of the best girls in gym class,” said Doef in a 2016 interview with Sportsnet, talking about their early days together. During their time in school, the two became great friends, connecting because of their love of sports. However, things took a rocky turn!

Bad luck strikes Neil Doef’s career

Neil Doef suffered a terrible setback while Brooke Henderson’s golf career took off and reached new heights with her historic LPGA Tour win in 2015. Doef suffered a spinal cord injury in 2014 while competing for Canada East. Here, he crashed into the board and had to use a wheelchair. Once prospected to be a promising NHL player, even getting a scholarship at Princeton for playing hockey, now Doef was relegated to the sidelines. Princeton kept their end of the bargain and accepted him even though he could no longer play. Hockey Canada, however, didn’t support him initially!

Following his accident, Neil Doef filed a $6.5 million lawsuit against Hockey Canada and its insurance, AIG. The former NHL draft star claimed that Hockey Canada broke its duty of care by neglecting to take appropriate precautions to keep him safe from harm that was likely to occur. Doef and Hockey Canada came to an “amicable resolution” to the case following a seven-year legal struggle; however, the settlement terms were not made public. Doef stated, “Hockey remains, and will continue to be, one of the most important aspects of my life,” expressing relief at finally agreeing.

Brooke Henderson and Neil Doef’s bond grew stronger throughout this period. As Henderson got ready to begin her professional golf career, she made a point to visit Doef on Christmas Day, an experience that profoundly affected her. “It made me realize how lucky I was to be living the life I am and that I love. It really motivated me and inspired me to be better and make the most of every day,” Henderson stated.

As Doef went through his healing process and recovery, Henderson’s drive and success motivated him to push forward. Doef’s determination and positive attitude greatly influenced Henderson’s drive and ambition. 

“She motivates me as much as I may motivate her. It’s good that way. She just has that positive attitude and wants to achieve great things,” Doef said. Whatever the facts surrounding their relationship, Brooke Henderson and Neil Doef’s bond remains a major source of support and motivation for them both!