Lexi Thompson didn't earn a check, but rather the golf world's admiration

Seventh woman to play a PGA Tour event nearly becomes first to make cut since 1945

Lexi Thompson shot even-par at the Shiners Childrens’ Open. Courtesy of PGA Tour

Lexi Thompson has missed short putts before.

Torturously. Agonizingly. Regrettably. 

They’ve cost her major titles. They’ve followed a rules controversy that left her in tears. They’ve led to terse news conferences and media backlash.

This time was different.

When Thompson’s 6-foot birdie missed on the final hole Friday, effectively ending her bid to become the first woman since 1945 to make a PGA Tour cut, new narratives followed.

“Very proud,” is how the 28-year-old described her 2-under 69 second round, which put her at even-par for the tournament and, ultimately, three shots outside the cut line. She finished ahead of more than 30 men in the 133-player field. “As the day went on, I tried to stay committed to my targets out there and to my swing thoughts and just enjoyed the whole experience.”

There was courage, for accepting the sponsors’ exemption in the first place.

During July and August on the LPGA Tour, Thompson recorded only one round in the 60s, and five rounds of 75 or worse, with an 80 in Canada. She missed all five cuts. When she qualified for the Solheim Cup, mostly based on 2022 performances, Thompson was playing perhaps the worst golf of her career. Some critics said she should cede her spot to another American player.

Thompson won three of her four Solheim Cup matches, including the anchor match in Sunday singles. When her sponsors’ exemption into the PGA Tour event was announced weeks later, Thompson ranked 25th in the world and was 82nd on the LPGA season points list. PGA Tour player Peter Malnati called her inclusion  “a gimmick,” before quickly walking it back.

Inderkum High seniors Zoey Christy, Ahana Iyer, Madison Whitney and Lindsay Jones during a Tuesday match in Sacramento.

High school girls golfers in Sacramento didn’t see it that way.

“It can prove a lot,” said Inderkum High School senior Madison Whitney, days before the Las Vegas tournament, after signing for a 1-over par 37 during her own match at Teal Bend Golf Course. “It shows she has a lot of talent. She’s a woman, people will probably talk bad (about her), so she has to play better mentally.”

Freshman Rouslyn Rivas and junior Hayden Weinrich, who make up the Antelope High girls golf team, rarely scared par Tuesday at Teal Bend. Rivas started playing in August and Weinrich recently got her first set of left-handed clubs. However, both are inspired by Thompson’s dedication to her craft.

“I think it’s a great thing,” Weinrich said. “She put so much effort into something. I hope to do the same thing one day. … First, I need to get good.”

Antelope High golfers Hayden Weinrich and Rouslyn Rivas.

Then came Thompson’s redemption. 

In Thursday’s opening round, she shot a 1-over par before darkness fell after 16 holes. Early Friday, she bogeyed No. 17 and parred No. 18 to finish at 2-over par 73. After a bogey at No. 10 to open her second round Friday, Thompson made birdies on Nos. 11, 13 and 15 to make the turn at even-par for the event. The seventh woman to play in a PGA Tour event was in the hunt to become the first to make a cut since Babe Didrikson Zaharias at the 1945 Los Angeles Open.

Then, Thompson birdied Nos. 10 and 11 and vaulted to 4-under par for the round and 2-under for the tournament. An out-of-bounds tee shot on the par-3 fifth led to a bogey, and dropped her to 1-under. After pars on No. 7 and 8, Thompson sat at 1-under, on a cut line that eventually moved to 3-under. She needed an eagle on the par-5 final hole for a chance. Her chip didn’t fall. Neither did the 6-foot comebacker.

She tapped in for a closing par, and a 2-under par 69 in her second round.

According to Justin Ray of The Athletic, Thompson is the second woman to record a PGA Tour round in the 60s (Michelle Wie had 68s in the 2004 and 2006 Sony Opens).

“Seeing the people out there and hearing the cheers and seeing all the little kids, that's what I play for,” Thompson said after the round. “I think I said that on the last hole. A little kid screamed out, ‘Go Lexi, you're great,’ and that just makes my day. No matter what I'm shooting, I could shoot 80, and they'd be like, you did great. That's what it's all about, just inspiring.”

Thompson didn’t earn a paycheck, but went home with the golf world’s admiration.