A day after Lexi Thompson officially filed a petition for LPGA membership and an exemption to the tour’s age floor, commissioner Mike Whan granted the request.
“Lexi Thompson is a unique talent who continues to grow, develop and mature both on and off the golf course,” Whan said in a statement. “I recognized her unique talent when I gave her the opportunity to earn her way onto the LPGA via the 2011 Qualifying Tournament. In the process of earning her way onto the Tour, she beat an elite field at the Navistar LPGA Classic that featured 15 of the top 20 players on the Rolex Rankings and 45 of the top 50 on the LPGA Official Money List.
“Additionally, her ability to handle the success and disappointment inherent to this game testifies to a level of maturity that I believe makes her capable of handling the emotional rigors of professional golf at the highest level. Therefore, effective at the start of our 2012 season, Lexi will officially become a member of the LPGA Tour.”
Thompson became the LPGA’s youngest winner in its 61-year history when she took the Navistar LPGA Classic by five shots. Being 16, however, Thompson was some 18 months shy of the age minimum to become a member. With the granted petition, Thompson not only is a member as of the 2012 season – by which time she will be 17 years old – but also enjoy the 2-year exemption that comes with winning.
By virtue of winning as a nonmember, Thompson had a choice to take up membership immediately or in the next calendar season. The decision to wait until 2012 was beneficial for both parties: allowing Whan to give Thompson membership at 17 instead of 16 and for Thompson to have a full year as a rookie in 2012.
