The stakes are high whenever the Thompson children – Nicholas, Curtis and Lexi – tee it up.
When they were younger, the heated matches became family feuds, with daily chores and weekly allowances wagered on the fairways of TPC at Eagle Trace in Coral Springs.’
“I sort of stay out of that, I just play for score and stuff because it gets really intense, it’s like whoa,” said Lexi, the youngest sibling. “Usually one of us quits because they get so frustrated or get mad at one another.”
While tempers have subsided in recent years, now they’re playing for much more than bragging rights. That’s because if things go as planned, all three will soon be on pro golf tours at the same.
“I don’t think it would be much cooler,” said their father, Scott Thompson.
Lexi made national news when, at age 12, she became the youngest golfer to play in a U.S. Open. Now at 16, she tees it up Thursday at the U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Lexi would already be a regular on the Tour if not for the tour’s 18-year-old age minimum. She turned pro last June, and in six events – which she played through sponsor’s exemptions – she earned more than $300,000. She’s had a rough start this year: after holding the lead after 54 holes at the Avnet LPGA Classic in late April/early May, she ended up finishing tied for 19th. She also missed two other cuts.
Lexi’s brother Curtis, 19, is on a full-ride scholarship at LSU and will begin his college career in the fall.
The eldest son, Nick, 28, earned more than $3 million on the PGA Tour from 2008-10. He is back on the Nationwide Tour this year but expects to be back next year on the PGA Tour.’
“It’s pretty amazing the things we have the potential to do,” said Nick, who earned $28,800 after placing fourth in a June Nationwide tournament.