LAS VEGAS — Just moments before she hit her first-ever tee shot on the PGA Tour, Lexi Thompson — as she is wont to do — stopped to sign a women’s hat, then smiled and nodded as fans surrounding the first hole yelled, “So proud of you, girl,” and “Girl power!”
Ever the advocate for women’s golf, Thompson was soaking in the positive vibes at TPC Summerlin, but knew a round near or under par would make an even greater statement.
Since finding out less than two weeks ago she’d been extended a sponsor exemption into the field at the Shriners Children’s Open, Thompson has been champing at the bit, eager to finish her first round on the world’s premier professional golf circuit.
But thanks to slow play and a lack of Nevada sunlight, she’ll have to wait a little longer.
The 11-time LPGA winner had her round halted due to darkness on the 17th hole while sitting at 1-over par, meaning she’s right on the projected cutline after the first day of play. She’ll resume her opening round on Friday morning with a 20-foot par putt on the par-3 17th and then play the par-4 18th before starting her second round. Beau Hossler leads the event at 9 under.
The first round will resume at 7:45 a.m. local time.
Thompson had opportunities at the beginning and end of her day that could have improved her chances of becoming the second female to ever make the cut at a PGA Tour event. Babe Didrikson Zaharias reached the weekend at both the Phoenix and Tucson Opens back in 1945, but no female has pulled the feat off since. The top 70 and ties make the cut and Thompson sits in a tie for 76th.
The 28-year-old missed putts inside of 10 feet on the first and 16th holes, and played solid golf throughout the day, outside of the par-4 7th hole, where she posted a double bogey.
“I played decent. I had one bad hole and a few iffy shots. But it’s golf; it was kind of expected,” Thompson said. “I had a little bit of nerves, but not too much. Kind of similar to Solheim, similar nerves, but that’s kind of what you play for.”
Lexi Thompson signs a golf ball for a young fan during the first round of the Shriners Children’s Open golf tournament at TPC Summerlin. Mandatory Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
Although she lagged a bit behind playing partners Kevin Roy and Trevor Werbylo in terms of distance, the difference was negligible. Thompson averaged 284 yards off the tee and boasted two drives of over 300 yards.
On the 552-yard par-5 ninth, for example, Thompson rolled a fairway wood onto the front of the green and made birdie.
“I knew (on number) 9, I could get a birdie as long as I hit that fairway, I knew I could get 3-wood up close to the front of the green and make birdie there,” she said. “Hit a good drive and just really stayed committed to that 3-wood. Tried to make eagle, but definitely take a birdie.”
She also birdied the par-5 13th, rolling her second shot just in front of the green before chipping to seven feet.
And Thompson’s first birdie came on the second hole, when she drained an uphill 22-foot putt that had just enough energy to roll into the cup.
“It was a very special feeling,” Thompson said of the birdie on No. 2. “I hit a great shot into 1 and probably hit one of my worst putts and then hit an amazing putt on No. 2, so it was nice to kind of have a good stroke there and make birdie on a more difficult hole.”
Overall, the moment didn’t seem to big for Thompson, who only needed a few more putts to fall to be on the right side of the cutline. Either way, when Friday’s round is complete, she knows she’s been part of something special.
“The fans were amazing. So many people around that first tee and then following us those next few holes,” Thompson said. “It was just great, especially to see those little kids out there. The fans make the game, and that’s why we continue to play and just hopefully grow it.”
