LAS VEGAS — Lexi Thompson did not hesitate when knowledgeable that she had been invited to play on this week’s Shriners Kids’s Open, the place she is going to turn into solely the seventh girl to compete on the PGA Tour.
She had different plans for this weekend after a busy schedule that had included consecutive LPGA Tour occasions following the Solheim Cup, however these shortly bought pushed again.
“It was mainly an computerized sure,” Thompson mentioned throughout her pre-tournament information convention Tuesday. “It was form of final minute, final discover. I used to be like, ‘Alright, OK, let’s go.’
“I did not know that it was within the works, however I am very pleased that it was.”
The 28-year-old used the phrase “encourage” 5 occasions Tuesday, and it is a theme Thompson regularly has referenced over the course of her 12-year skilled profession.
The youngest golfer to ever compete within the U.S. Ladies’s Open at 12 years outdated in 2007, she went on to turn into the youngest to ever win an LPGA Tour occasion 4 years later.
These data have since been damaged and whereas she will not be the primary girl to compete on the PGA Tour, Thompson will be part of a small and illustrious group at this week’s Shriners Kids’s Open when she tees off at 4:19 ET on Thursday in a gaggle alongside Kevin Roy and Trevor Werbylo.
She was requested how she has remained so resilient throughout a profession that features 11 LPGA Tour wins, a serious title and 6 Solheim Cup staff appearances — but in addition some very high-profile misses at different main tournaments.
“Since I’ve been beneath the microscope since I used to be 12 years outdated, simply getting used to it. However actually, simply believing in your self,” she mentioned. “As a result of you understand what you are able to, and all it’s important to do is consider within the work that you have put in and go on the market and belief the method.
“That is what I’ve achieved all through my profession. Turning professional at a younger age was an enormous step, I am doing this … so, actually, you simply must go on the market and do what you’re keen on.”
That is why Thompson is embracing the problem this week, regardless of realizing there are some individuals who do not agree with the invitation she was given. She was requested concerning the feedback made final week by Peter Malnati, who retracted after calling Thompson’s inclusion within the match a “gimmick.”
“I knew some feedback have been going to occur with something,” she mentioned. “I am out right here taking part in in fact with the lads, however I wish to depart a message simply to the children that I am following my desires and to go after what you need with a optimistic mindset and do not let anyone’s feedback or response get in the way in which of that.”
Thompson performed a restricted schedule earlier this 12 months, acknowledging that she was attempting to take pleasure in her life off of the golf course extra. She has struggled many of the 12 months, making solely 5 cuts in 12 begins on the LPGA Tour.
Nevertheless, she managed to carry onto an computerized spot on america Solheim Cup staff and mentioned she discovered one thing key in her swing the week earlier than the occasion. Thompson put collectively a 3-1-0 efficiency in Spain earlier than turning to the U.S., the place she has completed in a tie for eighth and solo fifth the previous two weeks.
Thompson mentioned she has been hitting a whole lot of golf balls per day to hone within the swing repair, and has loved simply her greatest golf of 2023 getting into this week.
She is aware of she’ll want each aspect of her sport to be on level. That begins with the driving force, as TPC Summerlin’s par-71 format measures 7,255 yards. By comparability, this week’s LPGA Tour occasion is being contest on a par-72, 6,672-yard course.
Thompson is having fun with having the ability to swing freely after being restricted in what number of drivers she’s in a position to hit on sometimes LPGA Tour layouts.
“You continue to must hit the golf pictures on the LPGA Tour. It is simply I do not get to reap the benefits of generally my size on just a few of these holes,” she mentioned. “Right here it is driver on each gap, and I positively like that. Hearth away and swing, get essentially the most distance I can on just a few of these holes.”
Competing alongside males will not be new to Thompson, who has performed six occasions within the QBE Shootout, an unofficial tour occasion she is scheduled to play in subsequent month with Rickie Fowler.
However first comes becoming a member of the checklist of girls who got here earlier than her in competing in a daily tour occasion: Babe Zaharias, Shirley Spork, Annika Sorenstam, Suzy Whaley, Michelle Wie West and Brittany Lincicome. Solely Spork made the lower, ending a hundred and fifth on the 1952 Barracuda Championship.
Requested what she would contemplate a profitable week in her PGA Tour debut, Thompson mentioned making the lower would clearly be “on the high” of her profession achievements and an “superb feeling.” However that is not her foremost precedence.
“Sure, good golf is a profitable week. However actually, if I can depart right here inspiring others, and particularly these Shriners youngsters, that is what it is all about,” she mentioned. “There’s extra than simply taking part in golf. If I can encourage one particular person, I really feel like I am making progress. In fact, sure, I wish to play good. That an entire ‘nother story, however there’s extra to life than simply performing properly. That is what I wish to do, I wish to encourage others.
“We’ll see the place the golf takes me. I am going to simply take one shot at a time and no matter occurs, it is only a blessing to be right here.”
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