Lexi Thompson was the target of negative comments from male players after sponsors invited her to play in the PGA tournament in Las Vegas. Photo: Getty Images/Sam Hodd
Lexi Thompson is determined to become the first female player in almost 80 years to play on the PGA Tour when she takes on men in the £7million event in Las Vegas on Thursday . .
The US gallery darling also claims she was «expecting the negativity» that accompanied her sponsors' invitation to the event and is confident it won't get in the way of her historic challenge.
«All I know is that that if I could qualify, I would definitely be at the top of my game,” said the main winner. “It would be an amazing feeling. It’s a great honor for me to get this chance.”
Thompson, ranked No. 25 in the Rolex Women's World Rankings, received the call from the Shriners Children's Open two weeks ago and immediately agreed to play in the tournament that famously witnessed Tiger Woods' first victory as a professional. 1996 they also include European Ryder Cup winners Ludwig Aberg and Nikolaj Hojgaard.
However, hours after Thompson was confirmed as the seventh woman to play on the PGA Tour — and the first in five years — Thompson's name on the start sheet was called a «gimmick» by the former Tour winner.
Peter Malnati, the players' representative on the Tour's policy council, expressed his surprise at the move and voiced his opposition, saying the tournament did not need to «resort to gimmicks» to attract attention to end-of-year tournaments in which the top names are overwhelmingly none. The American tried to retract his comments, but his doubts were still visible.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” Malnati said. “I don't know if Lexi's involvement in the game is a gimmick, but I don't think tournaments are going to have to go to great lengths to generate interest and get storylines that they can sell, because I think that's what these events are really about. will make a big difference.”
Meanwhile, Dylan Wu, another rank-and-file player, took to social media to express his disappointment at not getting a berth in the 132-golfer tournament. The implication was clear, and the argument as old as it was tired — Thompson taking a spot from another player.
There is a lot that is wrong or unfair in these autumn changes. Guys are supposed to compete for 125 in the fall, but what if the guys ranked in the top 125 don't make it to the tournaments? Aaron Baddeley is a great example. How do we both play ZoZo, on a field of 78 players?
— Dylan Wu (@dylan_wu59) October 10, 2023 “I play with men to send a message to children”
However, upon arriving at TPC Summerlin, an ultra-exclusive desert course located just 20 minutes from the track, Thompson brushed off the criticism and said she was in Sin City entirely for positive reasons.
«It's all good. I have I mean, I was expecting negativity,» Thompson said. «But I'm here playing with men to leave a message for kids that I follow my dreams and go after what you want with a positive attitude and don't let anyone else's comments or reactions interfere with this.”
Thompson follows some of the game's greats in his cross-gender challenge. The legendary «Baby» Didrikson Zacharias, who won Olympic gold in the hurdles and javelin before turning her attention to the fairways, where she won 10 majors, was eliminated from the PGA Tour three times, most recently at Phoenix in 1945.< /p>< p>But since then, people like Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie, Laura Davis and most recently Brittany Lincicome have been unable to make it to the weekend.
V came closest as a standout 14-year-old when he missed by one at the 2004 Sony Open. Over the next four years, she tried to do this seven more times, but to increasingly harsh condemnation and mistrust.
Tour member Jay Williamson called one sponsor's tax exemption «a complete joke» and former world No. 1 David Duval said «the novelty is wearing off.» Even Sorenstam joined the attack. «I really don't know why Michel keeps doing this,» the Swede said, suggesting the teenager had «jumped too deep.»
Vee's hostility scared off sponsors for a full decade before two-time major winner Lincicome played in 2018 Barbasol Open, missing by nine shots, and now Thompson. Shriners Children's is a network of nonprofit health care providers across North America that is understandably desperate for publicity as it opposes the NFL. Thompson is happy to help.
“If I can leave here inspiring others, and especially kids, Shriners kids, that’s what it’s all about and that’s what this tournament is all about,” she said. “Of course, I want to play well. But that's a completely different story. Life is about more than just good results.”
Some may see this as Thompson getting her vindication early, and the bookmakers are probably right in estimating her odds to go into the final two rounds at 12-1 (she's 2000-1 to actually win). She's had one of her worst seasons statistically, but performed well at the Solheim Cup last month and finished fifth in Texas on Sunday, her best finish of the year on the LPGA Tour.
Thompson played Tuesday practice round with Tour pro Ben Griffin, after which the world number 97 opined: “I think she can compete this week and have a chance of at least making it to the weekend.”
She's one of the best hitters on the LPGA Tour—though her 270-yard driving distance average still leaves her dead last on the PGA Tour charts—and, as a former Wonder Girl who qualified for the U.S. Women's Open as a 12-year-old, used to bright light.
“I've been under a microscope since I was probably 12 years old—I just got used to it,” she said. “It's about believing in yourself and not listening to external expectations or people who judge you.”
However, despite his fame, Thompson may still find the «noise» — as she called it — hard to ignore and despite his apology, Malnati certainly hasn't helped in that regard. “I mean, who knows what will happen,” he said. “She can play very well and it will be huge. She could play absolutely horribly and finish 132nd.”
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