Verdict Is In On Lexi's Prom Date Stunt: "That her parents or her agent didn't anticipate the backlash here is unfortunate"

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Bob Carney with a nice round-up of the mixed-to-negative reaction from commenters at this site and the very negative replies on Twitter to Lexi Thompson's Facebook plea for an older military man to take to her prom. Kind of makes Steiny's latest attempt to wrap his head around social media look charming.

Lexi Thompson is 17. Seventeen-year-olds, even 17-year-old professional golfers with professional handlers, do sweet, naive things. They aren't nearly as clever or calculating as we give them credit for -- or as we are. That her parents or her agent didn't anticipate the backlash here is unfortunate, but it offers us all a lesson.

Patriotism is in season right now. On the campaign trail. On TV. On tour. It is so in-season, in fact, that corporations are "cause marketing" the military. What brand can seem most grateful for our soldiers -- and in the process collect a bit of gratitude for itself. Maybe Lexi reminds us that patriotism isn't that easy. Read the Pulitzer-Prize winning Huffington Post series by David Wood on wounded vets---read it all, as a patriotic act--and you'll see what we mean. Good for Lexi to try to draw attention to their sacrifices. And if you think her video is too calculating, make a contribution to the American Lake Veterans GC and don't tell anyone about it.

With This Latest Win Yani Is Almost In The Hall Of Fame...

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John Reger's AP story points out that Yani Tseng's 15th LPGA Tour win in this weekend's KIA Classic puts her in rarified company.

"Today the first hole, I just kind of felt like every day is the same," Tseng said. "I didn't feel like today was Sunday. I didn't feel like I had a three-shot lead. I just focused on playing one shot at a time. I think I did a good job to just kind of focus on myself."

At 23, Tseng became the second-youngest player to reach 15 LPGA Tour victories. Nancy Lopez was 22 when she reached the mark.

And in five notes, Beth Ann Baldry puts Yani's domination into perspective with this about her World Golf Hall of Fame eligibility:

Tseng needs only four more points and 10 years of service to qualify for the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame. A major victory gets her two points and non-majors are good for one. There’s a good chance she’ll have that wrapped up by the summer’s end.

Karrie Webb earned her 27th point in July of 2000 at 25 years, 7 months and 2 days.

This'll Never Happen At A PGA Tour Event Files, Vol. 1

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Even Sophie Gustafson had to stop and get a shot of Tillman boarding his way around one of La Costa's many cart pathsI'm making a quick stop-in at the LPGA's Kia Classic to talk to a few players and for the opportunity to see the world's most dominant player tee it up (Yani Tseng) along with some exciting young phenoms (Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda).

You've heard it all before, but the players are tremendously accessible to fans and just as enjoyable to watch as the boys (well, minus the absurd caddy-lining-them-up nonsense).

For those of you not on Twitter--a big part of the LPGA culture evidenced by the pairing sheets--here's one example I Tweeted earlier today of the fun vibe here at La Costa.

Could you imagine if Commissioner Monk found out that one of his players (Irene Cho in the LPGA's case) taped a segment for Animal Planet and his staff let a hound on the property for a quick, fun promotional shoot? And this happened? I give you, Tillman the Wonder Dog...