The LPGA season came to a thrilling climax in the United States with the CME Group Tour Championship, sensationally won by Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul.
But the action was shoe-horned into an early television window that required a depressing revamping of its format.
While the initial rounds were played at a refreshing two-ball pace, the last lap was conducted in stodgy threesomes with half the field playing the back nine first.
For Lexi Thompson, this resulted in an inappropriately low-key finish to her full-time career at the age of 29.
The 11-times LPGA tour winner, who remains one of the game’s most popular players, was left to complete her final round among the anonymous surrounds of the ninth green.
These things can happen when outside influences dictate a two-tee start. Thompson had not performed well enough to be among the leaders who began their rounds on the first tee.
But this was still a snub – for Thompson in particular and the women’s game at large.
Thitikul beats Yin in dramatic finish to LPGA finale
24 November 2024
The altered format, showing the climax of the season in a less enticing light, was simply down to the need for an early finish. Why? To allow the American networks to then switch attention to the men’s action on the PGA Tour.
“Bummed I won’t be able to embrace all the incredible fans on 18 as I finish, hopefully some will be out there on 9,” Thompson told her legion of social media followers when she lay 30th after the third round at Tiburon Golf Club in Florida.
“Pretty sad when you’re at –4 in the season-ending event, which could easily be the last CME of your career, and you won’t even finish on 18 because they decide to double tee on the final day due to TV coverage window.”
This should have been a moment to celebrate one of the more significant careers in LPGA history. Thompson’s farewell deserved the widest possible coverage.
Thompson spent her career proving the female side of the sport deserves a proper spotlight. As the man who is prepared to put millions upon millions into the women’s game attests, it clearly still fails to shine to maximum effect.
