3-Year-Old Boy Hones Game for Q-School

WHEN ALEXIS THOMPSON RECENTLY turned professional to play on the LPGA Tour at the age of 15, some questioned whether she was too young for the rigors of tour life and openly wondered about the potentially damaging attention she might receive. But Thompson is a grizzled veteran compared to a 3-year-old Arizona boy who may enter the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School this fall.

The boy’s agent told ARMCHAIR GOLF in an email that his young client got an even earlier start in golf than Tiger Woods and other golf prodigies. The boy began making arm movements in his mother’s womb that simulated a golf swing and has aspired to play on the PGA Tour since he was 1. That was when he watched Woods beat Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open.

“He’s that good,” the agent said, “and he has a great attitude. Nothing keeps him down for very long.”

One large roadblock that stands in the boy’s way is the PGA Tour’s age rule. A player can enter Q-School at any age but isn’t allowed to become a PGA Tour member until his 18th birthday.

“We’re looking at it and talking to Ponte Vedra,” the agent said. “That’s all I can say right now.”

Apparently, business opportunities are also available. Golf-related companies and mega brands are always on the lookout for the game’s newest star players.

“Several potential sponsors are interested in signing him. He’s a great kid. He really is.”

For now, the boy’s parents and agent are guarding the boy’s identity should they decide to enroll him in preschool and forgo the Q-School bid until he’s 4.

−The Armchair Golfer

(This is an ARMCHAIR GOLF spoof.)

(Image: The Geary’s/Flickr)

2010 LPGA State Farm Classic TV Schedule and Tournament Notes

THE LADIES ARE BACK in action this week. Like a good LPGA partner, State Farm is there. (That was terrible, just awful. Sorry.) The 2010 LPGA State Farm Classic gets underway on Thursday at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Illinois, beginning a five-week stretch of tournaments on the LPGA Tour. The event is celebrating its 35th anniversary.

Purse: $1.7 million
Defending champion: In-Kyung Kim

Final field
Pairings
Tournament preview
Pre-tournament interviews
Tournament website


2010 LPGA State Farm Classic Leaderboard

TV SCHEDULE

More than nine hours of TV coverage are on tap for the 2010 LPGA State Farm Classic.

Thurs, Jun 10
6:30-8:30 PM ET GOLF CHANNEL

Fri, Jun 11
6:30-8:30 PM ET GOLF CHANNEL

Sat, Jun 12
6:30-9:30 PM ET GOLF CHANNEL

Sun, Jun 13
7:00-9:30 PM ET GOLF CHANNEL

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: Playadura/Flickr)

15-Year-Old Alexis Thompson Will Turn Pro in June

TEENAGER ALEXIS THOMPSON has lined up a summer job: professional golf. Thompson will make her pro debut on the LPGA Tour when she tees it up in mid June at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in New Jersey. Before she arrives in New Jersey, she’ll play on the U.S. Curtis Cup team in the June matches against Great Britain and Ireland in Manchester, Massachusetts.

“She thinks she’s ready,” said her father, Scott Thompson, at SunSentinel.com. “She tells me all the time at dinner, 'I’m ready, Dad, let me go.'”

Alexis will be a younger pro than Michelle Wie, who was one week shy of her 16th birthday when she entered the professional ranks.

The golf prodigy is used to firsts. In 2007 at age 12, Thompson was the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. She also played in the championship in 2008 and 2009, and was ranked as the No. 1 female amateur last year.

−The Armchair Golfer

Related:
Alexis Thompson Still Tops News About 14-Year-Olds

Reaction to Lorena Ochoa Retirement

LORENA OCHOA IS RETIRING from golf. The world No. 1 women’s player who snatched the top spot from Annika Sorenstam in 2007 and has held it for 157 weeks is just 28. Lorena has 27 LPGA Tour wins, including two majors. A press conference is scheduled for Friday during which Ochoa is expected to explain her reasons in more detail, which apparently center around her recent marriage and new family life.

Reaction

Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam (via her blog): “I must admit that I was surprised, but not shocked, when I heard the news yesterday that Lorena is going to retire. She has always said she would play for maybe 10 years and then leave the game to start a family. She just got married and obviously feels that she is ready for that next chapter in her life.”

Hall of Famer and TV analyst Judy Rankin (via AP): “I’m just crushed. We won’t get to see her play golf. Mostly, we won’t get to see her.”

Hall of Famer Amy Alcott (via LA Times and Golf.com): “To lose one of its great stars and great entertainers, that’s difficult. She’s been a great role model for young girls, and that’s what I admire the most about Lorena.”

Me: “Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle.”

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: Pablo Lancaster-Jones/Flickr)

2010 Kia Classic TV Schedule and Tournament Notes

THE 2010 KIA CLASSIC is underway at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. Na On Min is the current leader at 6 under.

Purse: $1.7 million
Defending champion: Inaugural event

Final field
Pairings
Tournament interviews
Complete tournament info

2010 Kia Classic Leaderboard

TV SCHEDULE

More than eight hours of TV coverage are on tap for the 2010 Kia Classic.

Thurs, Mar 25
Golf Channel 6:30-8:30 PM ET

Fri, Mar 26
Golf Channel 6:30-8:30 PM ET

Sat, Mar 27
Golf Channel 6:30-9:00 PM ET

Sun, Mar 28
Golf Channel 7:00-9:00 PM ET

−The Armchair Golfer

Did You Know Laura Davies Has 73 Wins?

I HAD NO IDEA. By closing with a 69 to win the New Zealand Open on Sunday, 46-year-old English golfer Laura Davies collected her 73rd worldwide title. Wow. Where have I been? I’m guessing trophy room rather than trophy case.

I knew Davies was one of the top women golfers for a lengthy stretch in the 1980s and 1990s, but she has never stopped winning golf tournaments since she got her first victory at the 1985 Belgian Ladies’ Open. In her quarter century as a professional, the long-hitting Davies has played all over the world. Here’s how her wins break down:

LPGA Tour: 20
Ladies European Tour: 39
LPGA of Japan Tour: 6
Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour: 6
Ladies Asian Golf Tour: 2

To my surprise, 15 of Davies’ 73 wins have been in the 2000s. Four wins are majors. She may not be the dominant player she once was—especially on the LPGA Tour—but she just keeps winning. Davies has also won the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit seven times, a record. I’d say it’s a Hall of Fame career.

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: dnkbdotcom/Flickr)

The Ladies Are Back

THE LPGA SEASON GETS underway tomorrow at the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand. Forty-nine of the top 50 on the 2009 LPGA money list will tee it up at Siam Country Club outside of Bangkok, Thailand. World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa is the defending champion.

Although last year was tumultuous for the LPGA Tour, a new season and new commissioner had three of the LPGA’s biggest stars in a sunny mood as they sat for a press conference on Tuesday.

Asked about LPGA commish Michael Whan and new sponsor announcements in recent weeks, Ochoa said, “We are all happy with the new commissioner. We’re going in the right direction.” Paula Creamer said, “His vision for our Tour is where it should be.” Michelle Wie made it unanimous. “I’ve talked to Mike Whan and he’s awesome. He sends e-mails to us and keeps in touch. He wants to know what we’re thinking as players.”

What the players think definitely matters. Just ask ex-LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens. It’s early, but so far Whan’s collaborative style is winning the players and a few new sponsors.

The three players also talked about their prospects as the season begins. Creamer, who suffered last year with a mysterious ailment, said she feels the best she has in a long time. Wie said she and other players are gunning for Ochoa’s top spot. Lorena said she is just trying to concentrate on her own game and not be concerned about all the great talent chasing her, including last year’s rookie of the year, Jiyai Shin.

Whether they’re in for another bumpy season or not, look for the ladies to hang tough. The LPGA has survived since 1950 when a group of 13 women that included Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs and Betty Jameson founded the ladies tour. They’ll be celebrating their 60th anniversary all year, which will include historic snapshots at LPGA.com.

Borrowing a phrase from Spock, who might be a commissioner candidate if Whan doesn’t work out, may the LPGA live long and prosper.

−The Armchair Golfer

(Images: Lancaster-Jones, Allison /Flickr)