Takeaways from Lexi Thompson’s inspiring run on the PGA Tour at Shriners Children’s Open

Lexi Thompson made history at the PGA Tour’s Shriners Children’s Open by becoming only the second woman to shoot a sub-70 round in a PGA Tour event, carding a 2-under 69. This achievement puts her alongside Michelle Wie West, who twice shot a 2-under 68 at the Sony Open.

Thompson’s impressive performance on Friday made her run toward the weekend must-see TV. Although her even-par effort fell short of the cut line, she fought hard to stay around the projected cut for the entire back nine. Thompson’s participation in the PGA Tour event makes her the seventh woman to tee it up against men, with the last woman to make the cut against men being Babe Didrikson Zaharias in 1945.

Here are five takeaways from Thompson’s inspirational effort:

A Surprising Victory

When it was announced that Thompson would compete against the men, doubts arose among many, including this writer. However, Thompson can leave Las Vegas feeling proud after coming incredibly close to making the cut. People who have never watched LPGA coverage witnessed the tour’s most popular American star competing toe-to-toe with the men, hitting drives over 300 yards and battling to stay around the cut line until the very end. This was a moment of triumph for Thompson, proving her doubters wrong.

Impressed by Her Performance

While there is still a lot of golf left to play in Vegas, it is safe to say that Thompson outperformed many of the men this week. Michael Kim, who played a practice round with Thompson, tweeted that her play was “seriously impressive.” He also mentioned that Thompson drew the largest crowds at TPC Summerlin and predicted future PGA Tour invites for her and other LPGA players.

Fascinating Stats

Though LPGA stats have made significant progress in recent years, they still pale in comparison to the PGA Tour. For instance, Thompson ranks 12th in driving distance on the LPGA at 270.7 yards. However, the LPGA only measures distance on two holes each week, and Thompson often chooses clubs other than the driver on those holes. This week, she used her driver extensively and averaged 301 yards off the tee (with elevation), with her longest drive reaching 316 yards. Her driving average for the week ranks 116th. Thompson’s explosive game was on full display as she reached par 5s in two and even drove the green on the drivable par-4 15th, resulting in a birdie. She also hit 20 out of 28 fairways, currently ranking T-13 in the field. Her strokes gained off the tee rank 81st, while her strokes gained putting rank 42nd.

The Purpose Behind It All

From the beginning, Thompson stated that playing in this event was about more than just golf. It was about inspiring the next generation, particularly the children associated with the Shriners, to pursue their dreams. Thompson’s opportunity to chase history in the desert and the support she received from the crowds truly touched her. The sight of the young fans cheering her on brought tears to her eyes, as she plays to inspire these kids.

A Springboard Towards the Future

Thompson’s next LPGA start will be at The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in a month’s time. She has come close to winning that tournament in the past two seasons. The confidence she gains from her recent stretch of golf, including the Solheim Cup, should make her a strong contender as the Florida swing approaches. Currently ranked 82nd on the CME points list, Thompson will need to break into the top 60 to qualify for the season-ending event in Naples.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lexi Thompson misses cut at PGA Tour Shriners Children’s Open Friday