As Lexi Thompson Shakes Up the PGA Tour Scene, Missing-in-Action Stars Jessica Korda and Michelle Wie West Give Their Final Verdict

Published 10/12/2023, 11:24 PM EDT

Despite setbacks in the early part of the season, Lexi Thompson has been in top form of late. Her performances in events like the Solheim Cup and the Ascendant have all played out in her favor. The tide continues at the Shriners Children’s Open, where the LPGA star became the seventh woman in golf history to become a part of the PGA Tour, and she had made sure to tell the world why.

The golfer has shown commendable play on the Vegas greens, leaving all big names in the golf industry star-struck. As Thompson plays her Day 1 matches on the greens, clips of her highlight shots are going viral on social media. This widespread attention has prompted Jessica Korda, Michele Wie West, and Jenny Shin, to openly express their enthusiastic support for Thompson. Here’s what the stars have to say.

Lexi Thompson gives fellow LPGA golfers something to cheer for

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After merely a round at the PGA Tour’s Shriners Children’s Open, Lexi Thompson is already making waves within the golf community. She has shown impeccable form along with match cadence on the greens, which has helped her to gain a comfortable standing moving on to the following rounds.

A video of Thompson teeing off on the greens has taken the information superhighway on a drive, with current as well as former LPGA stars being utterly impressed. The video shows Thompson teeing and then taking her calculated time to putt. Her training is evident in her posture and pose. As she putts, a loud cheer rises from the audience behind her.

Seeing her matchplay, LPGA golfer Jessica Korda took to Instagram to post about Thompson’s performance. The elder of the Korda siblings posted the video on her Instagram story with the caption: “@lexi.”

Not only Korda but retired LPGA star Michele Wie West also posted about Thompson’s matchplay on the greens with a caption, “Make history this week @lexi.”

Adding to the praises, 2006 U.S. Girls’ Junior winner Jenny Shin is also present on the Vegas greens and has posted a video of Thompson live in action on her Instagram story with the caption: “Historic moment @lexi.”

As Thompson makes history on the PGA Tour as a woman golfer, here’s a glimpse of how she made it to the Vegas greens.

How Lexi Thompson made it to the PGA Tour

As per media reports, Lexi Thompson’s selection for the PGA Tour’s Shriners Children’s Open came about through an unusually swift but fated process. Patrick Lindsey, the executive director of the Shriners Children’s Open, gave the idea of inviting Thompson to the tournament during a phone call with Thompson’s agent, and the decision was finalized less than two weeks before the event.

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What made this invitation unusual was the fact that Thompson was already scheduled to be in Las Vegas for a photoshoot with one of her sponsors, Cobra Puma. This coincidence provided the perfect opportunity for her to join the field at TPC Summerlin.

As discussions between Lindsey and Falker progressed, what began as a casual idea swiftly transformed into one of the event’s seven sponsor invites extending to Thompson.

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The experienced LPGA star, who had plans for that weekend that she willingly adjusted, described her reaction to the invitation as “kind of surreal.” Despite the short notice, she accepted the opportunity, making her one of the few female players to receive such an invitation to a PGA Tour event.

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Written by:

Maheen Sajjad is a golf writer at EssentiallySports. Having blazed through the ranks of the ES recruitment drive, Maheen has turned heads with her journalistic endeavor, which put her on the pedestal as an Editor for her college newsletter. Her journey into the world of golf began in the cozy confines of her home, where she watched her grandfather's weekend golf games.

Edited by:

Sharan Nair

As Lexi Thompson Shakes Up the PGA Tour Scene, Missing-in-Action Stars Jessica Korda and Michelle Wie West Give Their Final Verdict

Lexi Thompson gives fellow LPGA golfers something to cheer for

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How Lexi Thompson made it to the PGA Tour