Lexi Thompson became only the second woman to record a sub-70 round in a PGA Tour event on Friday when she carded a 2-under 69 at the PGA Tour’s Shriners Children’s Open. Thompson joins Michelle Wie West, who twice shot 2-under 68 at the Sony Open.
Thompson’s exhilarating run toward the weekend made Friday golf at the Shriners must-see TV. While her even-par effort is expected to come up short, the 11-time LPGA winner dug deep to hover around the cutline for the entire back nine.
Thompson became only the seventh woman to tee it up in a PGA Tour event. No woman has made the cut against the men since Babe Didrikson Zaharias in 1945.
Here are five takeaways from Thompson’s inspiring effort:
1
This was a win
When word came down just over a week ago that Thompson was going to tee it up against the men, plenty of folks (this writer included) had their doubts.
But Thompson can leave Las Vegas with her head held high after coming oh-so-close to making the cut. Folks who’ve never watched one minute of LPGA coverage saw the tour’s most popular American star hang right there with men, pounding drives more than 300 yards and clawing back to hang around the cut line right to the finish.
This was, in fact, good timing for Thompson. She proved a lot of people wrong.
2
The guys were impressed
There’s still a lot of golf left in Vegas, but suffice to say that Thompson beat a lot of men this week.
Michael Kim, who played a practice round with Thompson, tweeted on Thursday her play on Thursday was “seriously impressive.”
“You can bet there’s some pros around there that absolutely don’t want to lose to Lexi tomorrow and will give their all (myself included),” Kim wrote.
He also noted Thompson drew the biggest crowds at TPC Summerlin and future PGA Tour invites were likely to follow for her and other LPGA players.
“We were kind of rooting for her the last few holes to maybe make a birdie or two to make the cut,” said Trevor Werbylo, who played alongside Thompson, “but it was fun. She was great, her game was great, and the crowd was awesome.”
3
Stats are cool
While LPGA stats have improved in recent years, they’re still a fraction of what the PGA Tour enjoys every week.
For example, Thompson ranks 12th on the LPGA in distance at 270.7 yards, but the LPGA only measures two holes each week for distance, and Thompson often hits something other than driver off those tees.
This week she pounded driver everywhere and averaged 301 yards off the tee (with elevation), with her longest drive measuring 316 yards. Her driving average ranks 116th for the week.
Thompson’s explosive game was on full display as she was able to reach par 5s in two and even drove the green Friday on the drivable par-4 15th, making birdie.
She hit 20 of 28 fairways, which currently ranks a spiffy T-13 for the field. Her current strokes gained off the tee rank: 81st.
And while it was tough to watch those last few putts not fall, overall, Thompson’s current strokes gained putting rank is 42nd.
4
The why
Thompson said from the beginning playing this week was about more than golf. It was about inspiring the next generation – especially Shriners kids – to pursue their dreams.
Few get the chance to chase history like Thompson did on Friday in the desert, and the support she felt down the stretch was special for the veteran player.
“Just seeing the amount of kids that were out there screaming, ‘Lexi Lexi, go Lexi!’ it makes me tear up sometimes,” she said, “because that’s what I play for, to inspire these kids.”
5
Springboard for November
Thompson’s next start on the LPGA will be a month from now at The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, a tournament she has come painfully close to winning the past two seasons. The confidence she takes from this stretch of golf dating back to the Solheim Cup should make her a favorite heading back to the late Florida swing.
Currently No. 82 on the CME points list, she’ll need to jump into the top 60 to qualify for the season-ending event in Naples.
