Lexi Thompson, 28 years old, received an invitation from a sponsor to participate in the tournament held in Las Vegas. On Thursday, she was allowed to open her tour amidst loud applause. “It was a very special feeling,” she said.
The group of Thompson and male teammates Kevin Roy and Trevor Werbelo had the largest number of spectators ever. What was striking was the large number of women and children cheering her on at every hole.
“There were so many people at my first point of play and so many people who followed and supported me throughout the tournament, it was heartwarming. It was so gratifying to see all these kids. The fans are the foundation of our sport and they are the future.” “.
Reaching the final rounds on the weekend was not possible. After an opening round of 73, 2 over par, she responded with an excellent second round. At one point she was four for the second day.
But the bogey on holes 5 and 8, 2 of her last 5 holes, killed her. She finished with a 69, 2 under par, making her only the second woman to score under 70 on the PGA Tour. With the total rate over two days, she was unable to achieve the cut that required -3.
“I played well, but had some bad mistakes. However, I’m very proud of what I did.” And the audience is with her. On her way to the club, she had to sign dozens of autographs and take selfies.
She would like to try it again in the future. This is because of its impact, not because of its performance. “Because the most special thing is to see all the kids next to me. That’s why I play. To inspire these kids. I’m so happy that I can do this.”
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Thompson was the seventh woman to play on the PGA Tour. She was preceded by Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie West, Susie Wylie, and Brittany Lincecome (last in 2018), among others.
Pep Didrikson Zaharias was the first player to receive a sponsor invitation in 1935 and was also the last to make the cut. It did so twice in 1945.
Thompson was not up to her task in the field of sports history. In 2007, she became instantly famous when, at the age of 12, she qualified for the US Women’s Open. She also managed to qualify in the following years, and in 2009, when she was 14 years old, she survived the cut midway through the tournament.
She began her career in 2010, winning 11 tournaments to date on the LPGA Tour, the women’s counterpart to the PGA Tour. In 2014 she won her only major to date. She was unable to compete for awards twice at the Olympics, finishing 19th in Rio and 33rd in Tokyo.
