Commissioner Mike Whan made official what the golf world had known for weeks when he announced in September he had exempted 16-year-old Lexi Thompson from the age rule restricting membership to golfers who are at least 18. To keep next year’s rookie season intact, and given the few limited-field events remaining on this season’s calendar, Thompson, the star of last year’s U.S. Curtis Cup squad, deferred LPGA membership until 2012.
After Thompson using a sponsor’s exemption to become the youngest LPGA winner at September’s Navistar LPGA Classic, membership was essentially a done deal. But, despite clamoring by Thompson fans impatient for the LPGA to admit her––complete with a “Let Lexi Play” Twitter campaign orchestrated by her sponsor, Cobra-Puma Golf––Whan had to receive Thompson’s petition seeking a waiver of the age limit before granting membership. Hours after Thompson submitted the paperwork, Whan rubber-stamped it.
Thompson’s recent win at the Navistar LPGA Classic — as well as the way she comported herself after blowing a share of the lead in an April event — convinced Whan that the teen prodigy was ready for professional golf and all its trappings. Indeed, the tougher decision was letting Thompson compete in Q-school, where she cruised to victory in the first stage and subsequently withdrew before the second.
While Thompson’s star quality provides the tour with an obvious marketing opportunity, Whan sought to lower expectations of the talented teenager, whose manager said she would play in some 20 events next year. ”I don’t feel the need to put pressure on Lexi to win or to carry the tour,” said Whan, who presided over a season with the fewest events in years. ”If Lexi continues to win, it’s going to be an exciting time for her, and an exciting time for us,” he said. “But she doesn’t have to carry any more weight than the weight of her bag.”
Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly. Check her out on the Waggle Room, Boston Golf Examiner, National Golf Examiner, and GottaGoGolf websites. You may also follow Kay on Twitter @golfexaminer.
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- Still not a tour member, Lexi Thompson notches historic LPGA win
