Lexi Thompson denied LPGA membership after her record-shattering victory at Navistar Classic
Young Lexi Thompson probably did everything right to qualify for a full LPGA membership after she lifted her maiden title, the Navistar LPGA Classic on Sunday, becoming the youngest player to win a title on LPGA, but according to LPGA rules, a player cannot
qualify for a full membership unless she is 18-years-old.
After having turned 16 in February this year, Lexi shattered the record books of LPGA, to become the youngest player ever to win a title on the tour. She surpassed Paula Creamer, who won her first title in 2005 at the age of 18, and also Marlene Hagge, who
won the Sarasota Open in 1952 at the age of 18 years and 14 days.
Thompson said about her LPGA plan which is quite a predictable comment from a kid of her age, “I don't really know right now. This is a really big thing going on right now. I will think about it in the next few days.”
Having her father, Scott Thompson, carrying her bag, the duo walked to the 18th green at the Navistar Classic, well aware that they will be adding a new record to the LPGA history. Scott is also still unsure whether they should fight for their
case in order to alter the rules. He said, “We haven't even really talked about that yet. We'll worry about that as it comes. We'll see.”
With an overnight lead of five shots, Thompson opened up her final round and took the lead to staggering seven shots before making the turn at the Robert Trent Jones Trail's Capitol Hill complex. The young Floridian succumbed to the final round pressure
and dropped two shots on her back nine, giving Tiffany Joh a chance to minimise her lead to three shots.
Thompson then pulled in decisive birdies at 16th and 17th to lift the title with a comprehensive lead of five shots. She carded a final round score of two-under, 70, to overpower the grizzled LPGA field. She said, “I was just focusing
on playing the golf course today and doing my best. That's all I could do. I was a little nervous on the first tee, I'm not going to lie. If you're not nervous, you don't care.”
For Thompson, however, this is not the first accolade she has earned in her amateur or rookie career. She became the youngest player ever to qualify for the US Women’s Open at the age of 12. The young prodigy comes from a family embedded with a long line
of golfers including her two brothers, Nicholas Thompson and Curtis Thompson.
Nicholas is a professional golfer who plays at the PGA Tour while Curtis is still a student at the Louisiana State University. Thompson turned professional in 2010 and has two professional victories under his belt so far.
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