Lexi Thompson

Lexi Thompson
Personal information
Full name Alexis Thompson
Born February 10, 1995 (1995-02-10) (age 17)
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Nationality  United States
Residence Coral Springs, Florida, U.S.
Career
College n/a
Turned professional 2010
Current tour(s) none
Professional wins 3
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour 1
Ladies European Tour 1
Other 1
Best results in LPGA Major Championships
Kraft Nabisco C'ship T21: 2009
LPGA Championship CUT: 2011
U.S. Women's Open T10: 2010
Women's British Open DNP

Alexis "Lexi" Thompson (born February 10, 1995) is an American professional golfer. At age 12, she was the youngest golfer ever to qualify to play in the U.S. Women's Open. She turned professional in June 2010 at age 15.[2][3] On September 18, 2011, Thompson set a new record as the youngest-ever winner of an LPGA tournament,[4] at age 16 years, seven months, and eight days, when she won the Navistar LPGA Classic. She soon followed that up by becoming the second youngest winner of a Ladies European Tour event, capturing the Dubai Ladies Masters by four strokes on December 17, 2011.[4]

Contents

Personal life and family

Thompson's two brothers also are golfers; one half-brother, Nicholas Thompson, plays professionally on the PGA Tour[5] and Curtis Thompson[6] attends Louisiana State University.[7] Alexis has been home-schooled, and states that she plans to complete her graduation from high school, while at the same time playing professional golf.[7]

Amateur career

As a 12-year-old in 2007, she became the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open. At the tournament, she shot 86-82 and failed to make the cut.[8] Also in 2007, she won the Aldila Junior Classic to become the second-youngest winner in AJGA. She also won the Westfield Junior PGA Championship to become the youngest winner in Junior PGA Championship history.[9]

In 2008 she won the United States Girls' Junior Golf Championship. She qualified again in 2008 for U.S. Women's Open where she shot 75-87, where she again failed to make the cut, this time by two strokes.

As a 14-year-old in 2009, she qualified for a third time for the U.S. Women's Open and made the cut for the first time, finishing tied for 34th, +11 (71-73-78-73=295).[10] Later that year she Monday-qualified for the Navistar LPGA Classic, where she shot 65 in the first round and finished at T27, 12 strokes behind winner, Lorena Ochoa.[11]

In 2010 Thompson kept her amateur status for the first half of the year. As an amateur, she played in the Women's Australian Open, where she finished T16 (+3), 12 strokes behind the winner, Yani Tseng.[12] She made the cut at the 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship, finishing T24, +2 (74-72-73-71=290), 15 shots behind winner, Yani Tseng.[13] She represented the winning United States team in the Curtis Cup competition and went undefeated, winning four matches and tying in a fifth. She turned pro the next week, stating she believed her game was ready to make the jump to the LPGA Tour.[14]

Amateur highlights

Professional career

2010

Thompson announced that she had turned pro on June 16, 2010. She signed sponsorship deals with Cobra-PUMA Golf and with Red Bull.[3][15]

Lacking official status as an LPGA Tour member, Thompson largely had to rely on sponsors' exemptions to gain entry into tournaments. Her first sponsor's exemption was entry into the ShopRite LPGA Classic where she missed the cut by four strokes.[16]

She played qualifiers held in Florida in May to gain entry to the U.S. Women's Open played July 8–11. She finished T10 at the tournament, +6 (73-74-70-73=290), nine shots behind winner Paula Creamer and collected her first professional check for $72,131.[17]

Two weeks later at the Evian Masters, Thompson finished T2, -13 (69-72-67-67=275), one shot behind the winner, and made $242,711.[18] After three professional events, her earnings were $314,842, which would have ranked 18th on the official LPGA money list if she had been a member of the LPGA Tour. Her result from the Evian Masters caused her to rise 75 places to number 74 in the Women's World Golf Rankings.[19] She played three more events on the LPGA Tour in 2010, missing the cut at the CN Canadian Women's Open, and finishing T16 and T57 in two additional events.

Petition to LPGA
In December 2010, Thompson petitioned the LPGA to allow her to play in up to 12 LPGA tournaments in 2011 using sponsor exemptions instead of the six allowed to non-members by LPGA rules. In January 2011, Commissioner Mike Whan denied Thompson's petition, but announced that the LPGA rules would be changed to allow non-members to participate in Monday qualifying. In effect this may give Thompson the opportunity to play in more than 12 tournaments in 2011.[20]

2011

Thompson began playing in one-day tournaments on the Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour in October 2010. The Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour is a developmental tour aimed at men trying to move up to the next level of professional golf. On the Fuzion Tour, women play with tees moved up so that they play 94% of the distance that the men play.[21] She returned to play against women in February 2011 at the Women's Australian Open and the ANZ Ladies Masters, where she missed the cut and finished T42 respectively. Returning to the United States, she won a one-round Fuzion Tour event, on February 21, at her home course in Coral Springs, Florida. Tied after 18 holes, she beat Brett Bergeron on the second playoff hole, for her first professional win.[21] In March, Thompson attempted the Monday qualifier for the LPGA Kia Classic, but failed to qualify. [22]

Thompson's first LPGA tournament in 2011 was the Avnet LPGA Classic, with a sponsor's exemption. After three rounds, she was tied for the lead with Song-Hee Kim. On Sunday, her score soared to 78, including back-to-back double bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes. Thompson would finish tied for 19th at -1 (71-71-67-78=287), nine strokes behind the winner, Maria Hjorth.[23] She missed the cut at the ShopRite LPGA Clasic, the LPGA Championship and at the U.S. Women's Open and tried but failed to Monday qualify at the State Farm Classic. In her fifth LPGA tournament she played in 2011, the Evian Masters, she finished tied for 36th. She continued to play regularly on the Fuzion Tour, through the spring and summer. In August, she finished T31 at the Safeway Classic and then missed the cut at the Canadian Women's Open. In September, she won her first LPGA tournament, the Navistar LPGA Classic by a five-stroke margin over LPGA Tour rookie Tiffany Joh. At age sixteen she became the youngest winner ever on the LPGA Tour, breaking the previous record set by Marlene Hagge at age 18 in 1952.[24]

On December 17, 2011, Thompson won the Dubai Ladies Masters, an event on the Ladies European Tour (LET), with a four stroke margin. This win made her the youngest professional winner on the LET at age 16 years, 10 months, 7 day. The youngest-ever winner on the LET is Amy Yang who won the 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters at age 16 years, 6 months, 8 days as an amateur.[25]

Qualifying for 2012 LPGA membership
Thompson successfully petitioned the LPGA to receive a waiver to the rule that LPGA Tour members must be at least 18 years old, allowing her to enter the 2011 LPGA Qualifying School for Tour membership in 2012. The first of three stages was held July 26-29 at the LPGA International course in Daytona Beach, Florida. Thompson won Stage I by 10 strokes, shooting -23 (66-66-66-67=265). The top 50 finishers and ties from the first stage advanced to Stage II.[26] After winning the Navistar LPGA Classic, Thompson withdrew from qualifying school[27] and petitioned the LPGA for membership based on her win. Her petition was approved on September 30, 2011 and Thompson will become a member beginning in 2012.[28]

Professional wins (3)

LPGA Tour wins (1)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Sep 18, 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic -17 (66-68-67-70=271) 5 strokes Tiffany Joh

LET wins (1)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Dec 17, 2011 Dubai Ladies Masters -15 (70-66-70-67=273) 4 strokes Lee-Anne Pace

Other wins (1)

2011 TPC February Shootout (Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour)

Results in LPGA majors

Tournament 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Kraft Nabisco Championship DNP DNP T21 T-LA T24 DNP
LPGA Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
U.S. Women's Open CUT CUT T34 T10 CUT
Women's British Open DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP

LA = Low Amateur
DNP = did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10.

Professional record and earnings outside of Tour membership

Results in all tournaments in which Thompson has played since turning pro in June 2010 through the end of 2011. During this time she was a professional golfer but not a member of any golf tour.

Year Dates Tournament Tour Finish Margin Earnings
($)
2010 Jun 18-20 ShopRite LPGA Classic[16] LPGA MC 4 from cutline 0
2010 Jul 8-11 U.S. Women's Open[17] LPGA T10 9 behind winner 72,131
2010 Jul 22-25 Evian Masters[18] LPGA and LET T2 1 behind winner 242,711
2010 Aug 26-29 CN Canadian Women's Open LPGA MC 1 from cutline 0
2010 Sep 10-12 P&G NW Arkansas Championship LPGA T57 16 behind winner 4,989
2010 Oct 7-10 Navistar LPGA Classic LPGA T16 8 behind winner 16,641
2010 Oct 27 Hammock Fall Classic[29] Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour1 T5 2 behind winner 238
2010 Oct 28 Hillcrest Classic[30] Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T2 1 behind winner 508
2010 Nov 3 President Open Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour 2 3 behind winner 550
2010 Nov 18 Madison Green Fall Shootout Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T5 3 behind winner 325
2010 Nov 22 Thanksgiving Monday Classic Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T3 2 behind winner 508
2011 Jan 7 Coastal Performance Classic Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T16 4 behind winner 82
2011 Jan 10 Broward Winter Classic Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T3 3 behind winner 533
2011 Jan 11 Estates Winter Open Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T9 3 behind winner 270
2011 Jan 18 Jupiter Winter Classic Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T27 10 behind winner 76
2011 Jan 21 Madison Green Winter Shootout Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T9 6 behind winner 225
2011 Jan 24 TPC Eagle Trace Classic[31] Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour 11 4 behind winner 210
2011 Feb 3-6 Women's Australian Open LET and ALPG Tour MC 2 from cutline 0
2011 Feb 10-13 ANZ Ladies Masters[32] LET and ALPG Tour T42 14 behind winner 2,289[33]
2011 Feb 21 TPC February Shootout Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour 1 — 1,000
2011 Mar 4 March RPB Classic Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T9 4 behind winner 217
2011 Mar 25 Palm Beach Classic Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T2 Playoff 513
2011 Apr28-May 1 Avnet LPGA Classic LPGA T19 9 behind winner 14,715
2011 June 3-5 ShopRite LPGA Classic LPGA MC 6 from cutline 0
2011 June 23-26 LPGA Championship LPGA MC 6 from cutline 0
2011 July 7-11 U.S. Women's Open LPGA MC 4 from cutline 0
2011 July 12 PGA Estates Summer Shootout[34] Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour T20 8 behind winner 0
2011 July 21-24 Evian Masters[35] LPGA T36 9 behind winner 18,023
2011 Aug 5-7 Ladies Irish Open[36] LET T24 16 behind winner 6,382[37]
2011 Aug 19-21 Safeway Classic[38] LPGA T31 10 behind winner 9,559
2011 Aug 25-28 Canadian Women's Open LPGA MC 2 from cutline 0
2011 Sep 15-18 Navistar LPGA Classic[39] LPGA 1 n/a 195,000
2011 Nov 17-20 CME Group Titleholders[40] LPGA T36 17 behind winner 7,001
2011 Dec 14-17 Dubai Ladies Masters[25] LET 1 n/a 97,8632

LPGA Tour career summary

Year Events
played		 Cuts
made		 Wins 2nds 3rds Top
10s		 Best
finish		 Earnings ($) Rank Scoring
average		 Scoring
rank
2007 1 0 0 0 0 0 MC n/a n/a 79.00 n/a
2008 1 0 0 0 0 0 MC n/a n/a 76.00 n/a
2009 3 3 0 0 0 0 T27 n/a n/a 72.75 n/a
2010 6 4 0 1 0 2 T2 319,831 n/a 72.21 n/a
2011 9 5 1 0 0 1 1 244,298 n/a 73.81 n/a

Team appearances

Amateur

Curtis Cup Record

Year Total Matches Total W-L-H Singles W-L-H Foursomes W-L-H Fourballs W-L-H Points Won Points %
Career 5 4-0-1 1-0-0 1-0-1 2-0-0 4.5 90.0%
2010 5 4-0-1 1-0-0 def. S. Watson 6&5 1-0-1 halved w/ J. Korda, won w/ J. Korda 3&1 2-0-0 won w/ J. Johnson 3&2, won w/ J. Korda 2&1 4.5 90.0%

References

  1. ^ ESPN, Lexi Thompson to join LPGA Tour September 30, 2011.
  2. ^ "Alexis Thompson to make pro debut at NJ tourney". AP. 2010. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jlw--8JvKfGeHDsyP49WxieKDXwQD9FKMLHO1. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 
  3. ^ a b "Girl, 15, Turns Professional". New York Times. 2010-06-16. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/sports/golf/17sportsbriefs-thompson.html. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 
  4. ^ a b "Lexi Thompson, 16, wins second event as a professional". AP. December 17, 2011. http://www.golf.com/ap-news/lexi-thompson-16-wins-second-event-professional?sct=hp_t2_a15&eref=sihp. Retrieved 2011-12-17. 
  5. ^ "Nicholas Thompson's Official Profile". PGA Tour. 2008. http://www.pgatour.com/players/02/87/80/. Retrieved 2008-06-28. 
  6. ^ "Curtis Thompson's Biography". The Florida State Golf Association. 2008. http://www.floridajuniortour.org/players/viewPlayer.asp?pID=24415. Retrieved 2008-06-28. 
  7. ^ a b Golf Digest, July 2010.
  8. ^ Dixon, Peter (2007). "Thompson proves that youngsters can have fun". London: Times Newspapers Ltd.. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/golf/article2007602.ece. Retrieved 2007-06-29. 
  9. ^ Mirocha, Dan (2007). "Thompson, DeForest win Junior PGA". Golfweek. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20070928015253/http://www.golfweek.com/juniors/girls/story/pgajr_final_071407. Retrieved 2007-08-12. 
  10. ^ LPGA, 2009 U.S. Women's Open Leaderboard Retrieved 2010-6-19
  11. ^ LPGA, 2009 Navistar LPGA Classic Leaderboard Retrieved 2010-6-19
  12. ^ ABC News, Yani Tseng Wins Women's Australian Open, 2010-3-14, Retrieved 2010-8-1
  13. ^ LPGA, 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship, Retrieved 2010-8-1
  14. ^ Golf Digest, July 2010
  15. ^ Newjerseynewsroom.com, ShopRite LPGA Classic: Paula Creamer and Alexis Thompson ... a bit of agony and ecstasy, 2010-6-17, Retrieved 2010-6-17
  16. ^ a b "GolfDigest", Meanwhile on the other coast, Creamer is back 2010-6-19, Retrieved 2010-6-19
  17. ^ a b USGA, [http://www.uswomensopen.com/scoring2010/dyn/alllb.html 65th U.S. Women's Open Championship 2010 Championship Summary] July 11, 2010. Accessed November 23, 2011.
  18. ^ a b LPGA, 2010 Evian Masters Leaderboard, Retrieved 2010-9-20
  19. ^ LPGA, Rolex Rankings, July 26, 2010, Retrieved 2010-8-1
  20. ^ The Golf Channel, LPGA denies Thompson's petition for more sponsor exemptions. 2011-01-14. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  21. ^ a b c NBC.com, Lexi Thompson takes down a men’s mini tour event at Florida home course 2011-02-22. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  22. ^ Palm Beach Post blog, Lexi Thompson eager to return to work next week 2011-04-20. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  23. ^ SI.com, Hjorth wins Avnet LPGA Classic, Thompson slides 2011-05-01. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  24. ^ LPGA All-Time Records
  25. ^ a b Ladies European Tour, American Lexi Thompson Becomes Youngest Professional Winner on the LET. December 17, 2011.
  26. ^ lpga.com, Thompson Grabs Medalist Honors At LPGA Qualifying Tournament 2011-07-29. Retrieved 2011-07-31.
  27. ^ Thompson officially WDs from LPGA Q-School
  28. ^ Teen sensation Thompson to become LPGA member
  29. ^ Fuzion Golf Tour, 2010 Hammock Fall Classic Results Accessed November 23, 2011.
  30. ^ Fuzion Golf Tour, 2010 Hillcrest Classic Results Accessed November 23, 2011.
  31. ^ Fuzion Golf Tour, 2011 TPC Eagle Trace Classic Results Accessed November 23, 2011.
  32. ^ ALPG, ANZ RACV Ladies Masters 10-13 February 2011 Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  33. ^ Google Finance, Australian Dollar (AUD) in US Dollar (USD)
  34. ^ Fuzion Golf Tour, 2011 PGA Estates Summer Shootout Results Accessed November 23, 2011.
  35. ^ LPGA.com, 2011 Evian Masters Final Tournament Summary July 24, 2011 Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  36. ^ Ladies European Tour, 2011 Ladies Irish Open Final Results 7 August 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  37. ^ Yahoo! Finance, Currency Converter Euros to Dollars Converting 4,500 Euros to Dollars as of 8 August 2011 Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  38. ^ 2011 Safeway Classic Final Scoring Summary
  39. ^ LPGA.com, 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic Final Results September 18, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  40. ^ LPGA.com, 2011 CME Titleholders Final Results November 20, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  41. ^ XE.com, Currency Converter. Accessed December 17, 2011.

External links