2006 Curtis Cup Captain

Thompson has competed on a record 12 USA Curtis Cup teams, including the 2002 squad in her home area of Pittsburgh, Pa., when she holed a 27-foot putt from just off the 18th green at Fox Chapel Golf Club to retain the Curtis Cup for the American side. Thompson owns an overall Curtis Cup match-play record of 18-15-4, including 9-8-1 in singles competition.

The Curtis Cup is a biennial competition between female amateur teams from the USA and Great Britain and Ireland. The first Match was held in 1932 at Wentworth (England) Golf Club and the USA owns a 24-6-3 record, including victories in the last four Matches.

"I think it will be very different," said Thompson when asked to compare playing in the Curtis Cup versus captaining the team. "Before, I was just able to relax and think about my own game and now I will have to think about a lot more people. But I think it's a natural progression and I think it will be great fun. I am very excited. I figured someday it would come. I guess I didn't figure it would come this soon."

Thompson's first USGA title came at the 1973 U.S. Women's Amateur when she defeated Anne Quast Sander in the final, 1 up, at Montclair (N.J.) Golf Club. She has since gone on to win two U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur titles (1990 and 1997) and four consecutive USGA Senior Women's Amateur crowns (1999-2002). In August, Thompson will compete in her record 100th individual USGA competition when she competes at the U.S. Women's Amateur at Ansley Golf Club's Settindown Creek Course in Roswell, Ga.

In addition to her Curtis Cup experience, Thompson also played in five Women's World Amateur Team Championships for the USA. Thompson's father, Harton S. Semple, was president of the USGA from 1974-75, and her mother, Phyliss, has been active on various USGA committees.