Lexi Thompson flirts with PGA Tour history at Shriners Children’s Open, misses cut

Lexi Thompson was on the verge of a historic weekend in Las Vegas. She was teetering on the cutline during her second round at the Shriners Children’s Open, but a couple of late bogeys likely dashed her hopes. Thompson was aiming to become the first woman to make a PGA cut since 1945, when Babe Didrikson Zaharias achieved the feat twice. Unfortunately, Thompson finished at even par after a 69 in Round 2, following a 73 in Round 1. The cut ended up at 3-under, with Cameron Champ and Lanto Griffin co-leading at 12-under after two rounds.

Thompson’s performance was notable as she became only the second woman to finish a round in the 60s on the PGA Tour, with Michelle Wie West achieving the same feat twice at the Sony Open. Despite falling short of the cutline, Thompson expressed gratitude for the warm welcome she received from her fellow competitors and the presence of a large gallery, including many enthusiastic children.

Initially, it seemed like Thompson had a promising weekend ahead. After a strong first nine holes, she scored back-to-back birdies on holes 1 and 2, placing her at 2-under with seven holes remaining. At the time, it appeared that she would surpass the projected cut. However, trouble struck on the par-3 fifth hole, where she hit her drive into the penalty area, resulting in a bogey. She followed this with another bogey on the par-3 eighth hole.

Thompson received a sponsor’s exemption to play in this week’s tournament. Despite not having won on the LPGA Tour since 2019 and being ranked 25th in the world, Thompson is known for her impressive driving distance, which makes her well-suited for men’s tournaments where tee boxes are set farther back. Playing from the PGA tees, she maintained an average driving distance of 300.75 yards this week, slightly exceeding the PGA Tour’s average distance for the 2022-23 season.

Thompson’s name carries weight in the golfing community due to her accomplishments at a young age. She made history by qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open at just 12 years old in 2008. At 16, she secured her first LPGA victory, becoming the youngest winner on tour at the time. Thompson has amassed a total of 11 LPGA wins, including a major title at the 2014 Chevron Championship.

In addition to her skill and achievements, Thompson’s participation in the tournament added intrigue. According to Shriners executive director Patrick Lindsey, her presence attracted more attention to the event and its participants. Besides Thompson, only a handful of women, including Brittany Lincicome, Annika Sorenstam, and Wie West, have played on the men’s PGA Tour.