by Jeff Skinner
Half a world away a seismic change in women’s golf may be happening at The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters. On the Majlis Course at The Emirates Club, sixteen year old Lexi Thompson has a one stroke lead over veteran Sophie Gustafson.
Thompson took the lead after the second round when she scorched the dessert course with a sizzling 66 which included six birdies and no bogeys. She started the third round at -8 with a two stroke lead and her third round 2 under par 70 allowed her to stay ahead of Gustafson. Michelle Wie is five strokes off the lead.
As young as Thompson is, if she manages to win here she would still be the second youngest winner on the Ladies European Tour. That honor is held by Amy Yang who was five months younger than Thompson when she won the ANZ Masters in 2006.
A win by Thompson would be a boon for women’s golf but may place even more pressure on the young star when she makes her LPGA Tour debut as a member next season. That would give her two career wins at sixteen and put her in the position of being the savior of the tour. Win or lose it looks like the young Thompson certainly has the game to be a force in women’s golf.
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