Alexis Noel Thompson (born February 10, 1995) is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour.
At age 12 in 2007, she was the youngest golfer ever to qualify to play in the U.S. Women's Open, since broken by Lucy Li who was 11 in 2014.
[12] Later that year she Monday-qualified for the Navistar LPGA Classic, where she shot 65 in the first round and finished tied for 27th, 12 strokes behind winner, Lorena Ochoa.
As an amateur, she played in the Women's Australian Open, where she finished T16 (+3), 12 strokes behind the winner, Yani Tseng.
[14] She made the cut at the 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship, finishing T24, +2 (74-72-73-71=290), 15 shots behind winner, Yani Tseng.
She turned pro the next week, stating she believed her game was ready to make the jump to the LPGA Tour.
[3][18] Lacking official status as an LPGA Tour member, Thompson largely had to rely on sponsors' exemptions to gain entry into tournaments.
Her result from the Evian Masters caused her to rise 75 places to number 74 in the Women's World Golf Rankings.
In January 2011, Commissioner Mike Whan denied Thompson's petition, but announced that the LPGA rules would be changed to allow non-members to participate in Monday qualifying.
Returning to the United States, she won a one-round Fuzion Tour event, on February 21, at her home course in Coral Springs, Florida.
[27] Her record stood for 11 months until 15-year-old Lydia Ko won the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open on August 26, 2012.
On the LPGA Tour of Japan, she earned her first victory at the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup.
In April, Thompson was penalized four strokes for replacing her ball incorrectly on the green while playing the 17th hole during the third round of the 2017 ANA Inspiration.
[34] Thompson won the Indy Women in Tech Championship on September 9 for her ninth win.
At the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, Thompson missed a two-foot putt on the 18th hole to lose the tournament after Ariya Jutanugarn finished with back-to-back birdies.
[35] Thompson withdrew from the Ricoh Women's British Open in 2018 and took a month-long leave from the LPGA.
"[36] After her break, Thompson missed two cuts before heading into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
On November 18, 2018, Thompson won the CME Group Tour Championship with an 18-under total giving her a four-shot victory over Nelly Korda.
In August, during the opening round of the AIG Women's Open, Thompson was involved in another rules controversy when she was observed by an official moving a tuft of grass behind her ball with her club; it was later deemed that her lie had not been improved, as the grass returned to its original position, and she escaped any penalty.
[39][40] In June 2021, Thompson led the U.S. Women's Open going into the last round at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California.
LPGA rules specify that earnings by players who gain entrance to an international tournament using a sponsor's exemption are unofficial.