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Lexi Thompson
American professional golfer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Alexis Noel Thompson (born February 10, 1995) is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. At age 12 in 2007, she was the youngest golfer ever to qualify to play in the U.S. Women's Open, since broken by Lucy Li who was 11 in 2014. She turned professional in June 2010 at age 15.[2][3] On September 18, 2011, Thompson set a then 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. Three months later she became the second-youngest winner of a Ladies European Tour event, capturing the Dubai Ladies Masters by four strokes on December 17, 2011.[4] She won her first and only major championship at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship at the age of 19 years, 1 month and 27 days, making her the second youngest LPGA golfer to win a major (she still ranks in the top-5 youngest LPGA major winners).[5]
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Family and education
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Thompson's two brothers are also professional golfers: Nicholas[6] and Curtis[7] have both played on the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour. She was home-schooled and told an interviewer in September 2012 that she had "graduated a few months ago".[8]
Amateur career
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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.[9] The record was surpassed in 2014 by Lucy Li.[10] Also in 2007, she won the Aldila Junior Classic to become the second-youngest winner in American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). She also won the Westfield Junior PGA Championship to become the youngest winner in Junior PGA Championship history.[11]
In 2008, she won the U.S. Girls' Junior. She qualified again in 2008 for U.S. Women's Open where she shot 75-77 and 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).[12] Later that year she Monday-qualified for the Navistar LPGA Classic, where she shot 65 in the first round and finished tied for 27th, 12 strokes behind winner, Lorena Ochoa.[13]
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.[14] She made the cut at the 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship, finishing T24, +2 (74-72-73-71=290), 15 shots behind winner, Yani Tseng.[15] She also won the 2009 Verizon Junior Heritage after a sudden-death playoff with Laetitia Beck.[16] 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.[17]
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Professional career
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2010
Thompson announced that she had turned professional on June 16, 2010. She signed sponsorship deals with Cobra-PUMA Golf and with Red Bull.[3][18]
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.[19]
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.[20]
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.[21] 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.[22] 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 gave Thompson the opportunity to play in more than 12 tournaments in 2011.[23]
2011–2013
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Thompson began playing in one-day tournaments in October 2010 on the Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour, 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.[24] 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.[24] In March, Thompson attempted the Monday qualifier for the LPGA Kia Classic, but failed to qualify.[25]
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 finished tied for 19th at −1 (71-71-67-78=287), nine strokes behind the winner, Maria Hjorth.[26] She missed the cut at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, at 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.[27] Her record stood for 11 months until 15-year-old Lydia Ko won the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open on August 26, 2012.[28]
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 days. The youngest-ever winner on the LET is Amy Yang, who was four months younger when she won the 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters as an amateur at 16 years, 6 months, 8 days.[29]
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, 2011, 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.[30] After winning the Navistar LPGA Classic, Thompson withdrew from qualifying school[31] and petitioned the LPGA for membership based on her win. Her petition was approved on September 30, 2011, and Thompson became a member of the tour for 2012.[32]
Thompson made her Solheim Cup debut for USA in August 2013 at the Colorado Golf Club. USA were defeated 10–18 by Europe, and Thompson finished the competition with a 1–2–0 record, which included a 4 and 3 victory over Caroline Masson in the singles.[33]
Thompson earned her second LPGA Tour win with a four stroke victory at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia in October.[34] She also won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in November, beating Stacy Lewis by one stroke.[35]
2014
Thompson earned her fourth career LPGA win and first major championship at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship. The victory made her the second-youngest women's major winner at the time.[36] Thompson recorded 73–64–69–68=274 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California to secure a three stroke victory from Michelle Wie. After her win, Thompson said "It's just a dream come true".[37]
2015
Thompson earned her fifth career win at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Having trailed by four strokes after the conclusion of the third round, Thompson shot a –6 on the final day to seal a one stroke victory over Gerina Piller.[38] She then won her sixth title and second of the year at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship. Thompson finished –15 in Incheon and said afterwards "I don’t really play for myself as much as I play for my country. I love being an American and it’s a great honor to be the first American to win in Korea".[39] At the 2015 Evian Championship, Thompson finished in second place, six strokes adrift of winner Lydia Ko.[40] She had her best season, earning $1,763,904, which was fifth on the money list for the year.
Thompson played in the 2015 Solheim Cup held at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. USA claimed a narrow 14.5–13.5 victory, with Thompson finishing with an undefeated 2–0–2 record. Thompson won two matches alongside playing partner Cristie Kerr and halved her singles match with Carlota Ciganda on the closing day.[41]
2016
In 2016, Thompson earned her seventh LPGA Tour win at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Thompson ended –20 to win the tournament by six strokes from In Gee Chun.[42] On the LPGA Tour of Japan, she earned her first victory at the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup, where she won by a two stroke margin over Ayaka Watanabe.[43] In July, Thompson was part of the USA team that triumphed at the 2016 International Crown. USA finished the event one-point clear of South Korea.[44] Thompson had her best finish at the Women's British Open, T8th at Woburn Golf and Country Club.[45] Thompson was selected by USA to compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Thompson finished T19th, seven strokes adrift of the bronze medal position. Thompson later had the Olympic Games emblem tattooed on her hand.[46]
2017
Thompson started the season at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, where she shot a 61 (−12) in the second round. However, Thompson missed a putt to win the tournament, and Brittany Lincicome clinched victory with a birdie on the first playoff hole.[47] She earned her eighth LPGA Tour win at the Kingsmill Championship in May, where she finished with a tournament record −20 (65-65-69-65=264).[48]
In April, Thompson was penalized four strokes for replacing her ball incorrectly on the green while playing the 17th hole during the third round of the 2017 ANA Inspiration. The infringement was reported in by a TV viewer and assessed after completion of the round, which meant that in addition to receiving a two-stroke penalty for replacing the ball incorrectly, she was also penalized two strokes for signing an incorrect scorecard.[49] Despite this, she reached a playoff, eventually losing to Ryu So-yeon.[50] Afterwards, Thompson said "It is unfortunate with what happened. I did not mean that at all. I had no idea that I did it"[51]
In June, at the Manulife LPGA Classic in Cambridge, Ontario, Thompson was defeated in a three-way playoff by Ariya Jutanugarn. Thompson had held a four shot lead in the event after nine holes on the final day, but shot four bogeys to lose her advantage.[52]
Thompson won the inaugural Indy Women in Tech Championship on September 9 for her ninth win. Thompson finished four strokes clear of Lydia Ko in Indianapolis.[53]
At the 2017 Solheim Cup, Thompson finished with an unbeaten 2–0–2 record at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, Iowa, as USA secured a 16.5–11.5 overall victory. Thompson's two winning points at the event came with playing partner Cristie Kerr on day two. Thompson and Kerr played together for a total of six matches during the 2015 and 2017 editions of the event, winning four and halving two, with their five points being a joint partnership record in Solheim Cup history. Thompson halved her singles match with Anna Nordqvist, having been 4 down after nine holes.[54][55][56]
At the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, Thompson missed a two-foot putt on the 18th hole to lose the tournament after Ariya Jutanugarn finished with back-to-back birdies. However, she did still win the overall Race to the CME Globe for the $1 million bonus.[57] Thompson won the Vare Trophy in 2017 for having the lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour. Her 69.114 average was an all-time record.[58]
2018
Thompson withdrew from the Ricoh Women's British Open in 2018 and took a month-long leave from the LPGA. In an Instagram she explained: "I have not truly felt like myself for quite some time," Thompson wrote on Instagram. "I am therefore taking this time to recharge my mental batteries, and to focus on myself away from the game of professional golf."[59] After her break, Thompson missed two cuts before heading into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. On November 18, 2018, Thompson won the CME Group Tour Championship with an 18-under total giving her a four-shot victory over Nelly Korda.[59] The victory, her first in over a year and the tenth of her professional career,[60] was worth $500,000.[61]
2019
On June 2, 2019, Thompson had her best finish, a T2nd in the U.S. Women's Open at the Country Club of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.[62] On June 9, Thompson won the ShopRite LPGA Classic outside of Atlantic City, New Jersey. She secured a one stroke victory over Jeong-eun Lee6 at Seaview after scoring an eagle at the final hole.[63]
Thompson finished without a win in the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland. She posted a 0–2–2 record as USA were defeated by Europe 13.5–14.5. Thompson lost her singles match to Georgia Hall 2 and 1.[64]
2020
Lexi Thompson started the year at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, finishing T7th.[65] In August, during the opening round of the AIG Women's Open, Thompson was involved in another rules controversy when she was observed by an official moving a tuft of grass behind her ball with her club; it was later deemed that her lie had not been improved, as the grass returned to its original position, and she escaped any penalty. She went on to miss the cut.[66][67] She finished fourth at the ANA Inspiration in September, two-strokes behind Mirim Lee who won in a play-off.[68]
2021
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In February, Thompson finished T2nd at the Gainbridge LPGA, three-strokes behind champion Nelly Korda.[69] The following month, Thompson finished runner-up again, this time at the Kia Classic where she ended five-shots behind Inbee Park.[70] In June 2021, Thompson led the U.S. Women's Open going into the last round at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California. In the final round, towards the end of her front nine, Thompson led by five strokes. However, she shot a five-over par 41 on the back nine and missed out on a playoff by one stroke.[71] In the 2021 Pelican Women's Championship, Thompson bogeyed the final hole to end up in a four-way playoff, which was won by Nelly Korda at the first extra hole.[72] At the Tokyo Olympics, Thompson finished in 33rd position.[73]
Thompson was a member of the USA team that lost the 2021 Solheim Cup to Europe 13–15 at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. Thompson finished 1–2–1 for the tournament with her win coming in the day two foursomes when she and playing partner Brittany Altomare defeated Charley Hull and Emily Kristine Pedersen 2 and 1. In the singles, Thompson halved her match with Anna Nordqvist.[74]
2022
After Thompson's tie for fifth place, earning $79,951 at the Meijer LPGA Classic on June 19,[75] she moved to 10th on the all-time career money list on the LPGA Tour, earning $12,608,045 in 230 events over 10 years, starting from her LPGA membership in 2012.[76] In the 2022 Women's PGA Championship at the Congressional Country Club, Maryland, Thompson finished T2nd, losing to winner Chun In-gee by one stroke. Thompson had held a two stroke lead before making back-to-back bogeys at the 16th and 17th holes on the final day.[77]
In October, Thompson was victorious in the individual event of the Aramco Team Series-New York, winning the Ladies European Tour event by three strokes.[78]
2023
At the 2023 Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Casares, Andalusia, Thompson finished with a 3–1–0 record, including a 2 and 1 victory over Emily Kristine Pedersen in the singles. Europe and USA finished tied on 14 points, resulting in Europe retaining the trophy.[79][80]
In October, Thompson became the seventh woman to play on the PGA Tour when she played in the Shriners Children's Open.[81] She shot 73-69 to miss the cut by two strokes.[82][83]
2024
On May 28, 2024, Thompson, 29, announced that she would retire from full time golf at the end of the 2024 LPGA season after 14 years as a professional golfer.[84][85] She will continue to play at a small number of events. [86]
In June, at the 2024 Meijer LPGA Classic, Thompson was beaten in a playoff by Lilia Vu at Blythefield Country Club.[87] The following week, Thompson recorded her first top-10 finish in a major since 2022 when she finished tied ninth in the 2024 Women's PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington.[88] Thompson competed for USA in the 2024 Solheim Cup at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. Thompson won one of her four matches, securing a victory in the foursomes with Lauren Coughlin against Georgia Hall and Maja Stark. USA secured the overall victory and Thompson finished with a 1–3–0 record in the tournament.[89] In November, Thompson played her final tournament as a full-time LPGA member at the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.[90][91] She finished T49th at two under par.[92]
2025
Now playing part-time on the tour, Thompson finished T4th at the Meijer LPGA Classic in June. She had held a share of the lead at the end of the third round, but lost ground on the final day as Carlota Ciganda claimed victory.[93]
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Personal life
In January 2025, Thompson revealed that she had become engaged to Max Provost, who proposed to her in Whistler, Canada.[94][95]
Amateur wins
- 2003 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship
- 2004 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship
- 2007 Junior PGA Championship
- 2008 U.S. Girls' Junior
- 2009 Verizon Junior Heritage, Junior PGA Championship
Professional wins (15)
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LPGA Tour wins (11)
LPGA Tour playoff record (0–6)
Ladies European Tour wins (2)
LPGA of Japan Tour wins (1)
Other wins (1)
2011 TPC February Shootout (Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour)
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Major championships
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Wins (1)
Results timeline
Results not in chronological order.
^ The Evian Championship was added as a major in 2013.
Win
Top 10
Did not play
LA = low amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
NT = no tournament
"T" = tied
Summary
- Most consecutive cuts made – 24 (2013 Evian – 2018 Women's PGA)
- Longest streak of top 10s – 3 (twice)
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LPGA Tour career summary
^ Official as of 2024 season[96][97][98]
* Includes matchplay and other events without a cut.
1 Earnings and top-10s prior to 2012 are unofficial because Thompson was not an LPGA member.
2 Official 2012 earnings do not include $23,107 from T14 finish at the Honda LPGA Thailand. LPGA rules specify that earnings by players who gain entrance to an international tournament using a sponsor's exemption are unofficial.
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Professional record and earnings outside of Tour membership
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Results in all non-LPGA 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.
- Dates are span of competitive rounds, regardless of whether Thompson participated in all rounds.
- Margin = strokes behind winner or cutline, not applicable in cases of withdrawal, disqualification or matchplay format.
- Earnings are rounded up to the nearest dollar.
- 1On the Fuzion Tour, women play with tees moved up so that they play 94% of the distance that the men play.[24]
- 2 The winner's prize was 75,000 Euros. US dollar equivalent based on exchange rate current as of December 17, 2011.[107]
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World ranking
Position in Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of each calendar year.
U.S. national team appearances
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Amateur
- Junior Ryder Cup: 2008 (winners)
- Junior Solheim Cup: 2009 (winners)
- Curtis Cup: 2010 (winners)
Professional
- Solheim Cup: 2013, 2015 (winners), 2017 (winners), 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 (winners)
- International Crown: 2014, 2016 (winners), 2018, 2023
Curtis Cup record
Solheim Cup record
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See also
References
External links
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