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19th Hole

5 examples of how Lexi Thompson has been treated harsher than any of her peers

Published

2 months ago

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Following Lexi Thompson’s Solheim Cup post-round presser on Friday evening, the 28-year-old has been the topic of much discussion.

Golf pundits and fans alike have been weighing in with their takes after this exchange with a reporter surrounding an untimely shank on Friday afternoon went viral:

After the incident, LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez said that Lexi has “been picked on and drug through negative comments. She is tired of it”

So has the criticism of Lexi Thompson been justified, or is this yet another example of her being unfairly treated?

Well, here are five times, in my opinion, that Lexi has been scrutinized far differently over the years than her peers.

2022 KPMG PGA Championship

At the 2022 KPMG PGA Championship, Lexi Thompson held a two-stroke lead with three holes to play. She couldn’t close the deal and lost the tournament.

Afterwards, she was fined $2k (as were the rest of the group) for slow play.

Lexi declined to speak to the media and got hammered on social media for doing so…

Almost every golfer at some point has skipped a media session following disappointment on the course, and nobody has really batted an eyelid.

Tiger skipped back-to-back post-round media briefings at the 2019 WGC Mexico after being frustrated with his putting. Remember the backlash over that? Nah, me neither.

Donald Trump

@TheWhiteHouse

Every (or nearly every) big-name golfer under the sun has played golf with Donald Trump. Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy etc. Nobody really cared.

For whatever reason, when Lexi Thompson did, it was a story, and she took herself off social media soon after the photo was posted.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lexi Thompson (@lexi)

2021 U.S. Women’s Open

In the final round of the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, Lexi Thompson had a 6-foot eagle on her opening hole. She missed and made birdie to lead by five.

She then lost the tournament.

Following the round, Brandel Chamblee said on ‘Live From’:

“She’s got 6 feet away. Now professional golfers don’t miss the center of the face by a pinhead. Look where she hits this putt on the very 1st hole. Look where this putt comes off the face. She would have missed the center of the putter there by a half an inch. I have never — I have never — seen a professional golfer miss the center of the putter by a wider margin than that. That was at the 1st hole. “

Honest? Absolutely. Correct? Brandel usually is. Has any other LPGA golfer been handed the full-on Chamblee treatment? Not to my knowledge.

2023 Solheim Cup

Lexi Thompson spoke the words, “I don’t need to comment on that” when a reporter asked her about a failed shot, and the golf community collectively lost their minds.

Lost on many people is the fact that she literally answered the question instantly after.

Jessica Korda described the reporting of the awkward exchange with the media member as yet another example of the golf media shredding Lexi, but in reality, it was really just golf media covering the furore created by golf fans reacting to the viral clip.

Lexi then won her next two matches, collecting 3 points from 4 for the U.S. team. But nobody seems to care about that.

Instagram

‘yOu ShoUlD PrAcTIce puTTinG’

There’s very few golfers that have been plagued with such inane posts on their Instagram page as Lexi Thompson has.

I’ve tracked golfer’s social media accounts over the past few years (job requirement, sort of?). I can categorically say that Lexi gets some of the angriest and most aggressive responses to her posts of any golfer. Male or female. (She also gets some very nice ones too).

Despite countless posts of Thompson relentlessly practising her putting, the number of comments from dummies accusing her of neglecting that area of her game is both bizarre and alarming. Notice how the comments have been disabled on the post below? Probably not a coincidence.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lexi Thompson (@lexi)

Go on any other golfer’s social account, and it will be hard to find the same dynamic.

Throw in the scandalous rules decision at the 2017 ANA Inspiration that cost her a second major title and spawned the “Lexi rule,” and it’s hard not to think Lexi has had a bit of a raw deal at times.

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

19th Hole

What GolfWRXers are saying about Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf

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6 hours ago

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Dec 8, 2023

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In our forums, our members are discussing the huge news of Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf. Rahm officially completed his move to LIV on Thursday evening, and WRXers have been having a lively discussion in our forums expressing their thoughts on the Spaniard’s decision and what the future may hold for professional golf as a whole.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • PARETWO: “Unless they come up with a watchable product on TV, I’ll look forward to seeing Rahm in the 4 majors only, because I’m still not sold on the LIV format, the LIV atmosphere, the LIV music on course, the LIV fake team rivalries, and Pat Perez.”
  • MattyO1984: “Shame that Rahm has gone. We can all be bought I guess, I just wish that the people being bought weren’t full of it before they left before instantly doing a 180 and being full of it from the other direction.”
  • rainkingjr: “He’s a greedy hypocrite just like Brooks. Good riddance. I’d have a lot more respect for both if they were just honest and said it’s all about money. Quit with the excuse making and just say it.”
  • TGStan: “Grow the game lol. These guys have all but destroyed any interest I had in the professional game and I’m not alone. Yes, I know they don’t care. I know they have all the money. Thing is, I don’t care either.”

Entire Thread: “What GolfWRXers are saying about Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf”

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19th Hole

Rory McIlroy urges Ryder Cup eligibility rules to be re-written following Rahm’s LIV move

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6 hours ago

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Dec 8, 2023

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Now that Jon Rahm has officially joined LIV Golf, questions are beginning to arise surrounding the Spaniard in terms of Ryder Cup eligibility.

In Rome, any player who joined LIV Golf was not allowed to be a part of the European team. Henrik Stenson was stripped of his captaincy. European legends such as Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were not allowed near the team as players or assistant captains.

At the time, Rory McIlroy was in favor of the ban, and spoke harshly about the players not allowed to be a part of the Ryder Cup.

“They are going to miss being here (Rome) more than we’re missing them,” McIlroy said back in September.

However, now that the player in question is Jon Rahm, Rory is changing his tune.

While speaking to Sky Sports News, McIlroy said,

“Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025. Because of this decision, the European tour is going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility. There’s absolutely no question about that – I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.”

“I’m going to miss competing against him week in, week out. He has got so much talent, he’s so tenacious and he’s a great team-mate in the Ryder Cup.

“The thing that I’ve realized is that you can’t judge someone for making a decision that they feel is the best thing for them.”

The Northern Irishman was active this morning on X, responding to comment that questioned why he’d changed his mind since Rome.

Rory and Sergio Garcia had a falling out due to Garcia’s decision to join LIV back in 2022. It seems as if he’s taking a different approach with the latest Spaniard who’s left the PGA Tour.

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19th Hole

Tiger, Rory, Brooks and Bryson react to Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf

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6 hours ago

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Dec 8, 2023

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On Thursday, number three player in the world, Jon Rahm, officially joined LIV Golf.

Image

The deal is reported to be worth up to £450m, and it sent shockwaves throughout the golf universe.

Rory McIlroy shared his thoughts on Rahm joining LIV in an interview with Jamie Weir of Sky Sports.

“I am going to miss competing against him week-in-week-out. He is such a good player, he has so much talent. He is so tenacious, and a great teammate at the Ryder Cup. I have nothing but good things to say about Jon. I respect the hell out of him as a golfer.”

“He seems like he wants to live his life the right way. He wants to be a good dad, a good husband. You can’t judge someone for making a decision that is the best thing for them.”

Rory also said that the Ryder Cup rules should be “rewritten” in order to keep the Spaniard in the fold for 2025.

“The European Tour are going to have to rewrite the rules”.

Tiger Woods, or his team, reacted by sharing a letter from the player directors, which was already shared previously on December 1st.

Brooks Koepka, who was in the final pairing with Jon Rahm at The Masters, said he was “Ready for more Sunday battles” with the Spaniard.

Bryson DeChambeau also took to X to express excitement over the Rahm signing.

“Amazing to have @JonRahmpga join LIV. So happy for him and his family. Excited to compete with you once again my man and continue to play with the best players in the world.”

While speaking to David Feherty, Rahm said he believes the deal will help him, “reach a bigger audience”.

“I believe in the growth of the game of golf. I’ve largely spoken about how Seve improved the game of golf in Spain and I’ve always said how I would like to do the same thing over there. And if I can reach a bigger audience it would be amazing and I do believe this process will help me do that.”

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