Lexi Thompson, Maxfli serving to girls’s golf soar by means of philanthropy

Lexi Thompson is among the faces of the LPGA and girls’s golf, and for good motive. She is among the extra gifted girls now we have ever seen on tour. Thompson has 15 profession skilled victories, 11 of which have come on the LPGA Tour, together with a significant win on the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

However that’s hardly the one motive why she is a key determine serving to drive reputation in girls’s golf.

Seemingly each time followers watch her on tv, she has a smile on her face. That effervescent character jumps off the display screen and into individuals’s properties.

Nicely, I can attest to her authenticity and likability, in addition to her intentions.

I used to be not too long ago flown out to Panther Nationwide in West Palm Seaside, Florida, the place Thompson had been named an Ambassador of the Jack Nicklaus and Justin Thomas-designed course.

“I’m an Ambassador of Panther Nationwide. As soon as they reached out and JT [Justin Thomas] and Jack [Nicklaus] need me to be part of it, I’m like ‘sure, signal me up.’”

“It’s an enormous honor simply to be out right here… it’s an incredible format and apply facility for me,” Thompson mentioned in an unique interview with Enjoying Via.

She was there for a photograph shoot together with her new golf ball companion, Maxfli.

Thompson is partnering with Maxfli as her unique ball supplier for the 2024 season and can play the confirmed Maxfli Tour ball at every occasion this yr.

Throughout my time there, I used to be in a position to acquire perception into what makes Lexi, effectively — Lexi. It was each enlightening and inspiring.

Maxfli to assist Lexi Thompson take recreation to new heights

Thompson is seeking to take her recreation to a brand new degree in 2024. When her partnership with Bridgestone lapsed, she was in want of a brand new ball to play.

Enter Maxfli.

“After they reached out, I immediately began testing golf balls and after I noticed the outcomes, it was a simple, no-brainer choice.”

“Spin numbers have been higher, distance was higher and across the greens I gained extra really feel. So, I couldn’t have requested for something extra from a golf ball,” mentioned Thompson giddily.

Her targets and aspirations additionally align with Maxfli, which made this a seamless match.

“Their ardour for the sport is what I’ve for it. Their attempt to all the time carry on enhancing — expertise, to enhance the sport of golf usually, that’s what I wish to be part of and affiliated with.”

From all accounts, this seems to be a long-lasting relationship.

However Thompson’s targets aren’t solely performance-driven, though she’s assured her elevated recreation will assist together with her different key aspiration; rising the sport.

Lexi Thompson serving to LPGA, girls’s golf develop

During the last couple of years, the LPGA and girls’s golf usually has seen unbelievable progress.

In 2021, the LPGA Tour doled out just below $70 million in whole prize cash. This yr, that has grown to a report $118 million. That’s virtually a 70 p.c progress in simply three years.

Any enterprise making that form of leap deserves recognition. And the LPGA does it the best means.

Final week, Sports activities Enterprise Journal named the LPGA one of many high locations in all of sports activities to work. That got here to fruition primarily based on its excellent management and excessive worker satisfaction.

Thompson confirmed an understanding and appreciation for the latest ascension.

“It’s an inspiration to be part of the ladies’s recreation. It’s transferring in such an excellent course. On the LPGA Tour, now we have gained match sponsorships, television protection, prize cash — Even simply the sport on the ladies’s aspect recreationally has grown a lot,” Thompson mentioned.

“It’s nice to see children choosing up a membership at a youthful age. I feel that’s a giant motive for the entire golf packages… LPGA has golf packages, PGA Junior League, LPGA Ladies Golf Program… it’s wonderful to see.”

“Being part of that motion, that’s why I began the sport. I beloved it at a younger age and I wish to go away it in a greater place as I am going by means of my profession.”

Certainly, Thompson was immersed in golf having grown up on a course in Coral Springs, Florida.

She detailed how watching her brothers play instilled a way of dedication and drive to be one of the best. However it was in that second that I used to be witness to how self-aware Thompson is.

“I’m grateful and blessed… Any means that I may give again, whether or not it’s rising the sport or to [help] those who aren’t as lucky, I do know that I’m very a lot am, so any means I may give them their alternative to reside their finest life, that’s what I wish to do.”

Most individuals aren’t born residing on golf programs. They don’t have the identical entry to golf equipment, programs, instruction, and so forth.

It was with that understanding that she took it upon herself to do what she believed was proper; to present again.

Lexi Thompson — Philanthropic Endeavors

Golf, perhaps greater than some other sport, does an excellent job giving again to communities.

Whether or not that’s the Mates of Golf, First Tee, the American Golf Basis, to call just a few, charity has lengthy since been a giant a part of the sport.

That’s one thing that Thompson spoke to at size, detailing how a lot it means to her.

“Enjoying on the Shriners, it’s like, ‘I’m going to tee it up however provided that the message is in regards to the children,’” Thompson mentioned.

“It wasn’t about me attempting to go on the market and kick the blokes’ butts… the story was means larger than that. I didn’t need that to be the primary message.”

Photograph by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Pictures

Final October, Thompson turned the seventh lady ever to tee it up in a PGA Tour occasion. She discovered herself on the again 9 Friday on the Shriners Youngsters’s Open above the minimize line. She was just a few holes from changing into the primary lady to make the weekend in trendy golf.

That history-making efficiency was fairly a narrative. But, her focus was on what actually mattered.

“Assembly a few of the Shriners children, ambassadors, was most likely the spotlight [of my week],” Thompson famous after her spherical.

“Being with them, giving a clinic, giving golf classes, and hopefully inspiring them to go after what they need. That was most likely probably the most particular.”

However that’s removed from all she has carried out to present again.

She not too long ago took half within the ninth version of Capital One’s The Match. She, Rose Zhang, Rory McIlroy and Max Homa took half within the occasion the place Thompson’s zany eagle putt raised $200,000 for charity.

Thompson has additionally labored with SEAL Legacy Basis, supported Girls’s Breast Most cancers analysis, Wounded Warriors, amongst many others.

She even created the Lexi Thompson Basis, which goals to assist kids with critical sicknesses and encourage junior golf improvement.

It was made crystal clear to me throughout our time collectively how private and paramount philanthropy is to her.

It’s really heartwarming to come across an individual of privilege with other-worldly expertise care a lot. In a world divided, with so many points dealing with society in the present day, we might all be in a greater place with extra Lexi Thompson’s roaming the Earth.

Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. For extra golf protection, observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social media platforms.