Lexi Thompson is set to make history as the seventh woman to compete against men at a PGA Tour event

Thompson's appearance at the Shriners Children's Open sees her join an elite group of women who have competed in PGA Tour events. The list includes Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Shirley Spork, Annika Sörenstam, Suzey Whaley, Michelle Wie West, and Brittany Lincicome. Zaharias, a 10-time LPGA Tour major winner and Olympic gold medal-winning track and field athlete, became the first woman to compete in a PGA Tour event at the 1935 Cascades Open. She remains the only woman to make a cut at a PGA Tour event, having finished 33rd at the Phoenix Open and 42nd at the Tucson Open in 1945.

Thompson, who is currently ranked No. 25 in the world, was a member of the US Solheim Cup team that narrowly missed out on victory in Spain last month. Europe completed a dramatic fightback to level scores at 14-14 and retain the trophy. The golfer impressed at the LPGA Tour's Arkansas Championship, securing a tied-8th finish on Sunday. However, she has not won on the circuit since her victory at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in June 2019. Thompson has one major title to her name, having won the Kraft Nabisco Championship (now the Chevron Championship) in 2014.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Thompson expressed her excitement about the upcoming event and the opportunity to play alongside inspirational children. The Shriners Children's Open supports all children, regardless of gender, with disabilities. Thompson hopes that her ability to play with the men at the event will send a positive message to young women that they can chase their dreams, regardless of how difficult they may seem.

Last year's Shriners Children's Open was won by South Korean golfer Kim "Tom" Joo-hyung. At the time, he became the first golfer to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21, with a three-shot victory – all without carding a single bogey.