by Jeff Skinner
Michael Whan has been very busy trying to build his LPGA into the tour it used to be before a terrible economy and an even more terrible commissioner had devastated it. He has built many relationships and made plenty of decisions to help the tour regain its standing. One of those positive decisions that could bolster the LPGA for decades to come was the Lexi Thompson Decision.
Whan granted Thompson permission to try and join the tour long before she old was enough. Eighteen is the age where players can apply to join the tour but Thompson petitioned the tour and Whan realized that this sixteen year old would be able to play with the big girls and could certainly survive the rigors of professional golf. After all her dad is with her all the time and it was the same training that got Lexi’s brother, Nicholas Thompson on the PGA Tour.
So this week when Lexi smoked the field by ten strokes at the first stage of the LPGA Qualifying School Whan’s decision proved to be justified. By the way she shot 66-66-66-67. Thompson will now play a few tournaments around the world before the second stage of qualifying at the end of September.
She said afterward that “I have a lot of people believing in me.” That’s the truth for sure and one of them is Michael Whan.
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