DAYTONA BEACH, September 30, 2011 (AFP) - Teenager Lexi Thompson will play full-time on the LPGA tour next season after the women's golf circuit approved her request to waive the minimum age requirement.
Thompson, 16, filed her petition on Thursday and LPGA commissioner Mike Whan approved it on Friday, so that Thompson won't have to wait until she's 18 to become a member of the tour.
Thompson has already made LPGA history, becoming the youngest winner of a tour event with her triumph in the Navistar Classic in Prattville, Alabama, in September.
The home-taught US high school senior, who had already turned pro, captured a $195,000 top prize and shattered the youngest win mark of 18 years and two weeks set by Marlene Hagge at the 18-hole Sarasota Open in 1952.
"Lexi Thompson is a unique talent who has continued to grow, develop and mature both on and off the golf course since turning professional in 2010," Whan said.
"Her overall performance, most recently demonstrated by her win at the Navistar LPGA Classic, has currently placed her among the top 50 in the world on the Rolex Rankings.
"Additionally, her ability to handle the success and disappointment inherent to this game testifies to a level of maturity that I believe makes her capable of handling the emotional rigors of professional golf.
"Therefore, effective at the start of our 2012 season, Lexi will officially become a member of the LPGA Tour."
Thompson is also eligible for the LPGA's season finale in November.
Whan had already shown he was willing to consider waiving the age requirement when he decided in June to allow Thompson to compete in qualifying school.
She won the first stage by 10 strokes. Then came her tour triumph, in a tournament that included 45 of the top 50 players on the LPGA money list.
Thompson withdrew from the second stage of Q-school before filing her petition, but it seemed clear she'd be allowed to join the tour next season.
"I always said if she's good enough, she'll join us next year," Whan said. "She just sped up the Q-school process by winning a tournament."
Thompson called her recent ride "amazing".
"It has always been my dream to play on the tour full time," she said in a conference call. "Getting that win, it was the best experience of my life. I've enjoyed every minute of it.
"I've been waiting for this moment, knowing I'm going to play full time next year," she said. "I'm looking forward to it."