Lexi Thompson to play in Shark Shootout, first woman to play since 2006

Lexi Thompson will make Shark Shootout history in December, becoming just the second woman to compete in the two-player team event.

Thompson will team with fellow Cobra Golf staffer Bryson DeChambeau in the 24-player event, which will be played for the 16th consecutive year at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla. She’ll become the first woman to compete in the event since Annika Sorenstam played in 2006.

The event, hosted by Greg Norman (hence the Shark name), is a 54-hole event with a different format for each round. In the first round, the players compete in a scramble, followed by modified alternate shot and better ball.

Thompson has a major title among her seven LPGA wins, and she won the Honda LPGA Thailand this season.

The 21-year-old Thompson and DeChambeau aren’t the only players making their debut. Six others — Justin Thomas, Luke Donald, Russell Knox, Kevin Kisner, Kevin Chappell and Smylie Kaufman — will play for the first time as well.

Champions Brandt Snedeker and Jason Dufner and runners-up Matt Kuchar and Harris English will also return to play.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.