St Andrews Magazine Edition 04

Another rising star is
American Lexi
Thompson. At just 12
years of age,
Thompson became the
youngest golfer to ever
qualify to play in the
U.S. Women’s Open
before turning
professional in 2015.
Her incredible level of
performance saw her
set a record as the
youngest-ever winner
of an LGPA
tournament, aged just
16.
Three years later, she
obtained one of the
pinnacle achievements
in the sport by winning
the ANA Inspiration at
age 19 and, with two
LPGA Tour victories in
2017, continues to
contest for top honours
in the ladies’ game.
Born in September
1977, the youngest of
the Rolex New Guard,
Ontario-born Brooke
Henderson continues to
make waves in the
golfing world.
Having turned
professional in 2014, the
Canadian won her first
Major at the 2016
KPMG Women’s PGA
Championship, the
event’s youngest
winner at 18.
Respect and
camaraderie, as well
as a desire to win were
evident prior to
Henderson’s dramatic
play-off win over Ko at
the KPMG Women’s
PGA Championship in
2016 after which the
Canadian stated:
“Lydia Ko is definitely a
role model for me, and
being able to become
friends with her on tour
and see her week to
week is really cool,
even if I know that she
is the competition.”