AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

August 19, 2021

Lexi Thompson

Mixed Zone

STUART MOFFATT: We're now joined by Lexi Thompson. 3-under par 69 to start the championship. How satisfied are you with today's performance?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yes, definitely very satisfied. A lot of positives to take from today. Finishing with bogeys is never too much fun. Didn't really hit a bad golf shot. A lot of positives to take from the day. I made some good putts, some key putts going into the back nine, and just going to take that into tomorrow.

Q. Four birdies on the back nine. How much momentum did that give you and how much positivity did that give you during the round?

LEXI THOMPSON: It helped out so much, especially going into that back nine. Really just the golf course in general, there's not a lot of birdie holes out there, but there is if you hit the fairways out there. You can just be a little bit more aggressive going into the greens and take advantage of a few of those par-5s, which I tended to do pretty well today.

So just going to go into tomorrow with the same game plan and see where it takes me.

Q. You obviously started your British Open career right after Carnoustie. What did you know about Carnoustie? Did you watch the men play here? How excited were you to come play this venue?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, like you said, my first British was the one after this one. I was pretty bummed because everyone's been asking me, you've played in it, right? No, I missed it by one year.

I've heard a lot of good things about it, just how the layout is. Obviously, heard about "Carnasty," so I expected it to be a little bit difficult, weather depending. It's just an amazing layout. It's tough, but it's fair. That's what we look for in a golf course.

But it's in spectacular shape. I didn't watch too much of the guys, but I've had a few practice rounds, and I have a local caddie on my bag this week, and it's been a lot of help.

Q. I wanted to ask you about the local caddie. How did that come about?

LEXI THOMPSON: Just got in touch with a few people over here, and luckily I got in touch with Paul, and he's such an amazing person. Great personality to have out on the bag. He caddies out here a bunch and is a great player as well. So that's even better.

Just the local knowledge, especially for me, I don't play over here a ton, only really once a year. So knowing the local knowledge of the golf course, the bounces, where to miss if you need to, it helps out tremendously and makes you a lot more free over certain shots.

Q. And I know your regular caddie had some health issues in the heat at the Olympics. How is Jack doing?

LEXI THOMPSON: I think he's doing better right now. That extreme heat, 97 feels like 110. It was probably the hottest that I've ever played golf in too. It's definitely worrisome, just having him out there. It was so hot. You couldn't drink enough water, but he's doing better now and getting healthier. So all the best for him.

Q. Will he be back on your bag?

LEXI THOMPSON: I think we've kind of separated ways for now.

Q. And then just finally, how would you assess your game? And what did you do after the Olympics in that brief time off?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, the whole five days I went home (Laughter). My game's definitely in a good spot. It's probably the hardest I've ever worked on my game, in the mental side as well. I went home five days. I forget what day I landed, but I was out the next morning grinding on my game. I probably practiced five to six hours a day out on the golf course for those four or five days and training twice a day.

It was just a lot of hard work. That's how I always am. If I'm struggling, I'm going to be right back out there, just trying to keep on improving on my game. Even when I'm playing well, there's always something you can improve on. So I was right back out there to it.

Q. Sounds like it lit a fire under you.

LEXI THOMPSON: I mean, this game always lights a fire under me (laughter).

Q. Thank you, and congrats to Curtis.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yes, thank you.

STUART MOFFATT: Lexi, very well played today, and good luck for tomorrow.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yes, thank you.