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Over the years, several women have taken on men at professional golf. As with most skill based sports, it is possible for women to compete favorably with the men, though in golf there is also an element of fitness and strength, as the men can have different tee placements and play from tees further from the green.

As with most sports, there is higher prize money for men (which is gradually changing), so it is not surprising that some women consider trying for a part of that, though it is probably not the driving factor. Elite sportspeople want to be challenged and strive to be the best they can, and by playing against and alongside men is one way to do that.

Here are the seven female players that have competed in men's professional tournaments.

1. Babe Didrikson Zaharias

All-round super athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias competed in seven PGA Tour events, making the 36-hole cut in two events in 1945, the Phoenix Open and Tucson Open.

2. Shirley Spork

Shirley Spork played in the 1952 Northern California-Reno Open, finishing 105th after playing all four rounds(there was no cut).

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3. Annika Sorenstam

Annika Sorenstam played in the 2002 PGA Tour event at Colonial on a sponsor invitation, and she missed the cut after shooting 71 and 74. More is discussed in this article.

4. Suzy Whaley

Connecticut club pro Suzy Whaley played in the 2003 Greater Hartford Open. She qualified by winning a PGA of America sectional tournament, though she was allowed to hit from a forward set of tees for female competitors in that tournament. She missed the cut.

5. Michelle Wie

American golfer Michelle Wie played in 13 men's golf events, and made the cut in just one of them, the Asian Tour SK Telecom Open. All of her starts in 8 PGA Tour events came on a sponsor exemption from 2004-2008, and she missed the cut each time.

6. Brittany Lincicome

American golfer Brittany Lincicome competed against the men at the Barbasol Championship in 2018. Lincicome shot a six-over-par 78 to tie for 129th in the 132-player field.

7. Lexi Thompson

Lexi Thompson is the seventh woman to compete on the men's PGA Tour. She participatedin the third event of the FedEx Cup Fall series, the Shriners Children's Open, in 2023. She shot 73-69 to miss the cut by two strokes. It was the first appearance on the men's PGA Tour for an LPGA player since Brittany Lincicome in the 2018.

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Related Pages

• Profile of Michelle Wie
• The Annika Effect — what a difference a woman playing against the men can make.
• Take the Poll: Should women golfers be allowed to compete against the men?
• Women v men in boxing
• Women v men in tennis
• Women v men in sports
• Best Golf Tips for Women — some things women can focus on to get the most out of their game.
• Girls, Golf and Fitness — How golf and other sports can help girls develop a healthy lifestyle