Becoming the only woman in history to do something is always going to attract extra eyeballs. And if it’s being the only woman in a man-only tournament? You don’t say. Lexi Thompson became only the seventh woman to tee it up against her male peers at the Shriners Children’s Open, following in the footsteps of a veteran golfer who did it for the first time in the modern era some twenty years ago.

Like the now-retired golfer, Thompson’s run-up to his PGA Tour debut was bumpy. Players and critics doubted her. Some spoke of how another ‘in-form’ LPGA star would’ve been a better choice, while others simply dubbed her a fluke. 20 years ago, another LPGA star faced the same vehement criticism from players and fans alike. Now she decides to speak up about Lexi Thompson’s feat.

The legendary LPGA star feels ‘fired up’ by Lexi Thompson

Annika Sorenstam herself stirred up the pot in 2003 when she decided to take part in the Bank of America Colonial. Vijay Singh threatened to pull out if he were to be paired up with the then-No. 1 LPGA star. The golf world wasn’t ready then, and unfortunately, 20 years later, the situation hadn’t changed much.

Much like Zimbabwean golfer Nick Price, who called the Swede’s PGA entry a publicity stunt, this time Peter Malnati, the PGA Tour board member, opined the management doesn’t need to resort to gimmicks to drum up interest. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop Sorenstam, and neither Lexi Thompson nor I paid any heed to the negative comments. The veteran golfer lauds her for that.

Annika Sorenstam only sees the positive impact of this. For her, it does not matter whether she makes the cut or not. What matters is that she has made an impact. “She’s bringing this experience not just to the LPGA; she’s bringing it to a lot of athletes, a lot of women.”

Fans and analysts might sink their teeth into her scoresheet and crunch on the odds, but for the 72-time LPGA Tour winner, it’s more than that. “It’s the people you meet and the mindsets you’re impacting.” “That gets me fired up,” the 52-year-old golfer concludes. For Lexi Thompson as well, cheering up the Shriner kids was more rewarding.

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Thompson gets candid about her debut performance

The 11-time LPGA Tour winner failed to make the cut, scoring 73 and 69 and eventually finishing in 85th place. But the 28-year-old, while speaking to the media after her debut, revealed she was “honored” just to be a part of this.

“Hopefully, I inspired the kids. That’s what I wanted the most,” a glowing Thompson revealed. She did inspire a lot of people. The American International was greeted with cheers on each course. Fans were chanting her name during every tee shot. It only kept increasing in volume with each birdie putt she cupped.

Thompson not only followed the Swedish legend’s footsteps, but she went on with the same mindset and expectations as her forerunner did twenty years ago in Texas. And like the veteran golfer, the 28-year-old LPGA star also won the hearts and minds of fans.

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