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Lexi Thompson is an American professional golfer known for her incredible on-course talent, most notably becoming the youngest player, at the time, to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open in 2007 at the age of 12.
Born in Coral Springs, Florida in February 1995 Thompson comes from a family of golfers. She has a brother who has played on the PGA and Nationwide Tours as well as another brother who was a member of the Louisiana State University men’s golf team.
After an impressive amateur career, including winning the United States Girls’ Junior Championship in 2008 as well as being a member the 2008 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, 2009 PING U.S. Junior Solheim Cup Team and the 2010 U.S. Curtis Cup Team, Thompson announced she would be turning pro in June 2010 at the age of 15.
Thompson career got off to an impressive start, winning her first LPGA title in 2011 at the Navistar LPGA Classic. At the time this victory made her the youngest-ever winner in the Tour’s history. Success continued for the young golfer who then went on to win the OMEGA Dubai Ladies Masters Championship on the Ladies European Tour. Again becoming the youngest-ever winner on the LET. By the end of September 2011, Thompson was granted LPGA membership following an exemption from the commissioner.
In the following seasons Thompson’s star continued to rise with the teenager posting numerous top-10 finishes as well as competing on her first U.S. Solheim Cup Team. Thompson hit a high point in her career during the 2014 season when she secured her first major victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Beating Michelle Wie by 3-strokes to enjoy her maiden jump into Poppy’s Pond.
In April 2017 Thompson suffered a devastating loss at the first major of the season, the Ana Inspiration.. Leading the tournament by 2-shots halfway through the final round, Thompson was informed that she was being levied a four-stroke penalty for a violation a TV viewer phoned in from the third round. Looking quite bewildered by the situation Thompson asked, “Is this a joke?” before composing herself to continue play. Whilst she tried her best to carry, Thompson ended up losing in a playoff to So Yeon Ryu.
The “Lexi effect” as the incident is sometimes known led to outrage from both fans and players alike. Leading golf’s governing bodies to seriously reconsider the validity of viewers watching from home being able to call-in penalties. At the end of 2017 the USGA and the R&A announced that players will no longer be penalised two shots for signing an incorrect scorecard if they were unaware of the rules violation at the time of signing and that neither body will respond to most TV viewers’ calls during a tournament.
Career Wins:
2011 – Navistar LPGA Classic
2011 – OMEGA Dubai Ladies Masters
2013 – Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia
2013 – Lorena Ochoa Invitational
2014 – Kraft Nabisco Championship
2015 - Meijer LPGA Classic
2015 - LPGA Keb Hana Bank Championsip
2016 - Honda LPGA Thailand
2017 - Kingsmill Championship
2017 - Indy Women in Tech Championship
