A fantastic story is happening this week in the world of professional golf.
Lexi Thompson, a top competitor on the LPGA women’s pro tour, is competing against men this week in their pro tour event in Las Vegas. Thompson yesterday teed off against men’s PGA tour pros at the Shriners’ Children’s Open, being held down in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Thompson, after her opening round was cut short last night due to darkness, finished that first round this morning and fired a round of 73, two-over par on the par-71 Tournament Player’s Club Summerlin course not far from downtown Las Vegas. She will compete in the second round later today, and if she makes the cut, this weekend as well. This, according to PGATour.com, is her men’s tour debut, and marks just the seventh time that a woman has competed against men in men’s tour events. Women’s golf legends such as Annika Sorenstam, Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Michelle Wie West also have given it their best shot against men over the years.
Thompson, who is from Florida, has become one of the top players on the ladies’ LPGA tour, a tour that in recent years has been dominated by players from overseas, in particular South Korea. She has competed in major tournament golf for over 15 years, both at the junior level and at the LPGA level.
The tournament leaders in this week’s event in Las Vegas sit well ahead of Thompson at this point, so her chances of making the cut are remote. But a good second round could see her in that discussion this weekend.
