Thompson misses cut at Shriners Children's Open

Shooting a two-under-par 69 on Friday at the Shriners Children's Open, Lexi Thompson chased history as she fought to make the cut in her PGA Tour debut. Starting the second-round T94 and +2, Thompson made five birdies with three bogeys on Friday to become the third female player in over 70 years to shoot an under-par score on the PGA Tour, following Michelle Wie West at the 2005 John Deere Classic (first round, 1-under 70) and Brittany Lincicome at the 2018 Barbasol Championship (second round, 1-under 71).

The 11-time LPGA Tour winner finished T85 and even, missing the -3 cut, but at one point in the round the major champion was 2-under par with a solid chance to add her name to the record books alongside LPGA Tour Hall of Famer Babe Didrikson Zaharias, who is the first and only woman to make a cut on the PGA Tour.  

“I knew once I had made a few birdies in a row that I would be somewhat close, but I knew the cut line would keep on going lower and lower with these guys, especially with not that much wind out there,” Thompson said after her round on Friday. “I just really tried to stay focused on my game and focused on my swing thoughts, picking small targets and staying 100 percent committed, and whatever happens, happens.”

Day two of the Shriners Children's Open

Thompson started her day on 17, where her first round was suspended Thursday evening, and missed a 20-foot par putt to move to +2 overall. A beautiful up and down on 18 kept her at that number before she headed to the 10th tee to start her second-round not 30 minutes later.

The America made a bogey on 10 after her approach shot rolled off the green, but she quickly recovered with a great approach on 11 that gave her a four-foot birdie putt. From there, she chipped away at her deficit with birdies on 13, 15, 1 and 2, moving to two-under-par with two 20 foot birdie putts on the first and second. Heading onto her 14th hole, Thompson needed to make one more birdie in her last five holes, but found a bogey instead when she hit it out of bounds on the par-3 No. 5 and was forced to take a drop. She almost added a birdie on 7, but her 14-foot putt hit the hole without falling in. On 8, she missed the green for the second day in a row, leading to another bogey that ended her chances of reaching the weekend. She ended with a par on the par-5 9th.

“I would say the biggest challenge was -- I mean, on the golf course, probably just some of the pin locations. They tuck them very close to the edges to where you have to hit high shots and carry it and be able to stop it within two bunkers or a narrow part of the green,” Thompson said. “I would say that was the biggest part because I don't get it as far down as the guys, so I have a little bit longer of a shot.  But I took my medicine and just hit to the fatter part of the green and gave myself a 25-, 30-footer and just made par on those kinds of holes.”

Three weeks off to come back and finish strong

Playing her fourth week in a row, Thompson was feeling the fatigue of a long stretch of golf, and from hitting her driver on nearly every hole during both rounds.  Now she will have three weeks off before heading to The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, where she has finished runner-up two years in a row. Thompson is currently 82nd in the Race to the CME Globe and will be fighting to get into the top 60 to earn a spot in the season finale CME Group Tour Championship.

“Yeah, Pelican will be a big week for me,” Thompson said. “I have three weeks off, so I'm going to take the first week and kind of slow down a bit and really get that downtime and relax a bit, but the next two weeks I'll be training hard and working on a few things that I need to improve on, and going into Pelican, that's a big one, so we'll see.”

Taking on the challenge for herself and her fans

Thompson was given a sponsor’s invite into the Shriners Children's Open just eight days before practice rounds began at TPC Summerlin. Before the tournament began, she said making the cut would be the highlight achievement of her career. But despite not doing so, Thompson considers the week a major success. During both rounds, the biggest gallery on the course was following Thompson, and cheers for her success could be heard all around the grounds. Throughout the week, Thompson said her most important goal was to be able to inspire generations of golfers with her impressive play, and support the children of Shriners Hospitals, both of which she resoundingly achieved.

“It was more energizing. Seeing the people out there and hearing the cheers and seeing all the little kids, that's what I play for. I think I said that, on the last hole, a little kid screamed out, ‘go Lexi, you're great,’ and that just makes my day,” Thompson said. “No matter what I'm shooting, I could shoot 80, and they'd be like, you did great. That's what it's all about, just inspiring.”