‘Once-in-a-Career Opportunity’: Lexi Thompson Reveals Danielle Kang as the Secret to Deciphering Her PGA Tour Debut

It is not common for female golfers to play on the PGA Tour since they have their own LPGA Tour. However, sometimes a female golfer gets an exemption to play in a PGA Tour event. Arguably, the move is an attempt to acknowledge the extraordinary achievements of the player, and the latest to add her name to this laurel is none other than Lexi Thompson.

Following in the footsteps of Annika Sorenstam, Brittany Lincicome, and Michelle Wie West, Thompson has recently received an opportunity to play in a PGA Tour event. And of course she’s more than thrilled, as she spoke about the opportunity in a recent press conference, dropping Danielle Kang’s name into the mix!

Lexi Thompson takes time out to do something for the kids

The Shriners Children’s Open is a charity event that has been played to gather funds since the 1980s. The PGA Tour and the Shriners Children’s Hospitals together aid children in need. This year, the management added a twist to the field and invited Lexi Thompson to play in it.

Speaking of her “once-in-a-career opportunity” at a press conference, Thompson said that she was honored to know that they wanted her there. When asked if she reached out to anyone, especially Brittany Lincicome (who was the last female golfer to play officially with the men), since Thompson knew her, she said no.

“Haven’t really reached out to many people. Trying to get some info on the golf course and see what I have in store for me, but that’s about it.” She mentioned how she would reach out to Danielle Kang, though, since she lived right there in Vegas and could offer her valuable feedback on the course.

Answering a question about who had reached out to congratulate her, she said no golfer had reached out. Although she happily stated that many girls messaged her to convey their wishes, which was bound to be the case, after all, it’s only a few women who have competed alongside the men in the sport!

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Sorenstam, Lincicome, and West have set precedence

Aside from the current LPGA star, a few greats have graced the men’s tour in the past. Annika Sorenstam did so at the Bank of America Colonial in 2003. For it, the 10-time major winner received mixed responses from the men. For about half a century prior to that, women hadn’t teed off with men at all.

Some players had reluctance and even objections to this. However, the legends knew the right things to say. Phil Mickelson spoke about how it’s not really a men’s tour, but the best tour for the best players. Tiger Woods was very thoughtful too and explained how Sorenstam’s performance could be judged better had she got to play four of five tournaments instead of just one, considering she may not play well the very first time!

In addition to Sorenstam, Michelle Wie West also received this honor twice in three years. She played the Sony Hawaii Open in 2004 and the John Deere Classic in 2006. LPGA star Brittany Linicome did this more recently, too, when competing at the Barbasol Championship in 2018.

Lexi Thompson has played well in the Solheim Cup and the following Arkansas event as well. How do you feel about the honor she has received? Tell us your thoughts on this in the comments below!

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