Lexi Thompson to play in PGA Tour event

Lexi Thompson is set to become just the seventh female to compete on the PGA Tour after accepting a sponsor's exemption to play in next week's Shriners Children's Open.

Brittany Lincicome, Michelle Wie West, Suzy Whaley, Annika Sorenstam, Shirley Spork and Babe Didrikson Zaharias are the previous women to have participated in an event on the flagship men's tour.

The 28-year-old who has won 11 times on the women's equivalent tour and is among its longest hitters as she averages 270 yards off the tee this season, will join the club when she tees off at the event in Las Vegas from 12-15 October.

"Shriners Children's support of children with specialty paediatric medical challenges for over 100 years is inspiring, and as we all know, these conditions do not discriminate," she said in a statement.

"I'm hopeful that my ability to play with the men next week at the Shriners Children's Open sends a great message to the young women that you can chase your dream regardless of how hard it is."

Thompson has form for being a trail blazer as the youngest woman to qualify for the US Women's Open in 2007, aged just 12.

She also holds the record for being the youngest LPGA champion, aged 16 years, seven months and eight days, after prevailing at the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic.

"We are thrilled to welcome Lexi to the 2023 tournament," Shriners Children's Open executive director Patrick Lindsey said in a statement.

"We are eager to have Lexi on the course and continue to break through barriers."