Alexis Thompson - a 15 year old golf prodigy
Alexis Thompson at just the age of 15 is a golfing phenomenon. With her growing skills as a golfer she is attracting a lot of sponsors. Alexis is also the youngest golfer to ever qualify for the U.S Women’s Open.
The first time Alexis qualified for the U.S Women’s Open was when she was only 12 years old but failed to make the cut, however the same year the striving young player won two championships; Aldila Junior Classic (AJGA) and Westfield Junior PGA Championship becoming the youngest player ever to win one.
Later in 2008 she qualified for the U.S Women’s Open again but sadly couldn’t make the cut by only two strokes. Yet she claimed another big championship for the first time, United States Girls’ Junior Golf Championship.
On 16th June 2010 Miss Thompson announced she had turned pro and qualified for the fourth time for the U.S Women’s Open and this time making the cut with people around, stunned by her play.
Although Alexis found it quite difficult to find her way to the fairway yet she managed to somehow scramble some shots and made the cut qualifying for the U.S Women’s Open.
Thompson said she was really happy about the fact she made her first cut at the U.S Open, although she missed 9 of 14 fairways she still managed to scope up some confidence and got back into the game. Alexis believed that she was only thinking about making the cut at the beginning which got her off a bad start but in the second round she told herself to buckle up and play some real golf.
Many people have been raising questions regarding the 15 year olds wisdom and whether she could really play in the LPGA. Nevertheless the young player says she pays no attention to what the critics have to say as long as her family is extremely supportive she will remain playing. She explained in various interviews about the fact that such people never say these remarks to her face but she knows they doubt her ability but she does not take it personally.
Alexis Thompson said “It was my decision. I just wanted to take my game to the next level”.
Despite the ridicule by critics Thompson made it to the leader board over night by Saturday in the U.S Women’s Open, while there were still golfers who had yet to complete their third round. Alexis ended up tying for the 10th position, pocketing $72,131.
In the final round Suzann Pettersen from Norway tied up with Alexis, Suzaan said, “She’s the best 15-year-old I’ve ever seen. God, she hits it a long way”.
This was a big complement for Alexis considering the fact that Pettersen in 2005 made the cut at LPGA Championship, right alongside Michelle Wie another 15 year old. Countless comparisons are made between Wie and Alexis. Alexis had an instant success just like Wie when she was her age but Alexis already has a bigger endorsement portfolio than what Wie had when she was 15. Thompson’s portfolio includes Red Bull, Cobra and Puma.
When Thompson was asked how she feels when she is compared to Wie, Thompson said “I’m my own person; a whole different person”.
When reporters asked her if she ever wanted to continue with her normal life and quit golf due to the nomadic life, she told them she has not exactly given up on anything and that she is home-schooled, she goes out with her friends, does normal stuff like bowling and watching movies. Her mother backed her up by saying “Retirement? She’s only 15!”
While Thompson might only be 15 she not only has established the fact she is a professional golfer but pros such as Suzann Pettersen and Paula Creamer who won this year’s U.S Women’s Open acknowledge her.
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