Thompson prepares to defend Dubai Ladies title

Life keeps getting more surreal for American teenager Lexi Thompson, who is in the United Arab Emirates to defend her title at the Dubai Ladies Masters, which begins Wednesday. She won the tournament in 2011 at 16 to become the youngest winner on the LPGA and European Tour. She then lost her LPGA record to Lydia Ko, a 15-year-old amateur from New Zealand who won the Canadian Women's Open in August.

Along with Thompson, the field includes Michelle Wie and LPGA Championship winner Shanshan Feng.

Thompson hasn't won a tournament this year, but with four top-five finishes on the LPGA Tour, her star keeps rising. With that come the perks of celebrity. She got to meet the 14-time major winner Woods this summer at the Notah Begay Challenge in August.

"It was amazing, just meeting a role model. I've always looked up to him so it was great to meet him and talk to him," Thompson said. "And he said I'll play golf with you any time, and that means a lot coming from a person at that level."