Lexi Thompson responds to PGA Tour pro's "gimmick" comment ahead of Shriners
LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson speaks to the media ahead of making her PGA Tour debut this week.
LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson has responded to the media after hearing PGA Tour pro Peter Malnati refer to her appearance in this week's Shriners Children's Open on the PGA Tour as something of a "gimmick".
To be fair to Malnati, 36, he did immediately retract his comment during his presser last week, however, he still said it.
Thompson, 28, will become only the seventh woman to play on the PGA Tour, and she will be competing for a prize pot of $8.4m when she tees up at TPC Summerlin on Thursday.
The American is the first woman to play on the PGA Tour since Brittany Lincicome played at the Barbasol Championship in 2018.
Thompson has made it clear she intends to "inspire others" by competing with the men on the PGA Tour.
The 11-time LPGA Tour winner joins esteemed company to make the switch to play on the men's circuit, following in the footsteps of Lincicome, Michelle Wie, Annika Sorenstam, Suzy Whaley, Shirley Sport and Babe Didrikson Zaharias.
Of the six golfers who have made starts on the PGA Tour, only Zaharias managed to make the cut when she played in the Los Angeles Open in 1945.
Thompson arrives in Las Vegas in solid form following a tie for eighth and a solo fifth in her last two LPGA Tour starts.
The Ladies World No.25 was quizzed by reporters as to how she reacted after hearing Malnati's comments in light of her PGA Tour invite.
Thompson replied:
Thompson then went on to add:
As for taking up the invite, Thompson admitted she cancelled plans to be here.
Thompson said:
Why did Malnati call Thompson's invite a "gimmick"?!
While Malnati has no problem Thompson competing with the men on the PGA Tour, and even thinks she will be able to put up a good fight given the distance she hits the golf ball, he is unsure whether a tournament sponsor really needed to go to such lengths as inviting an LPGA Tour star to "drum up interest and get storylines."
Malnati said last week at the Sanderson Farms of Thompson's invite:
What do you make of Lexi Thompson competing on the PGA Tour this week? Do you agree with Peter Malnati? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
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