THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

March 29, 2022

Lexi Thompson

Mission Hills Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here in the media center with 2014 Chevron Championship winner, Lexi Thompson. Lexi, this is a place that you like. You've obviously won here; finished second, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh. What are some of your best memories being back here in the desert this week?

LEXI THOMPSON: Obviously jumping into Poppie’s Pond is one of my best memories. Honestly just the atmosphere of this whole event ins general. The fans really get behind it. The golf course is always in amazing shape for us. Mission Hills does it right.

Just a great atmosphere to be around and have the fans just be out here and embrace it all, and it's just a good week.

Q. What is it about Mission Hills that suits your game so well that you've been able to come out here and have all those really high finishes?

LEXI THOMPSON: I would say it suits my game because I'm able to play it aggressively. I'm able to hit a lot of drivers, if not 3-woods, but mainly drivers around the golf course, which I love doing.

So I get to play it to I guess my strength, but really just finding the fairways out there is key. The rough isn't too high right now but I'm sure as the week goes on it'll get higher.

It's always in great shape, and I think that's what we enjoy most about it.

Q. Played your way in last week at the JTBC Classic holing out on the 9th hole to make the cut. Had a second place already this year, a T6. How is your game feeling this week coming into the first major of the year?

LEXI THOMPSON: It feels like it's in a good spot. I had a few really good starts to begin the year, and then I had about six weeks off, which was really nice. I didn't get much of an off-season back in December, so it was nice to have little bit of a break, but at the same time work on the things I needed to improve on and keep going for now first two events.

I feel like my game is in a great spot. I've been working extremely hard on and off the golf course, so it's good to see it show.

Q. A lot of people did what you just talked about, that the break was actually that six weeks in between our Florida swing and now.

LEXI THOMPSON: Uh-huh.

Q. How difficult is it to get ramped back up for a major championship coming this quickly after a break like that?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it's definitely difficult. It's different. Like I said, I didn't get much of an off-season in December because I played in the middle of December in Shark Shootout; it's really fun event.

It's just important to get that relaxing time in the six weeks, but at the same time with a few weeks to go before last week, it's important it get your game back in the groove, get your mind right, go out, play some rounds of golf, and really focus on doing your routine, getting in the right mindset of being in a tournament.

I think last week was of good little warmup for a major coming up.

Q. Those of us who have been coming here since you were in grade school are saying that I don't think I've ever seen it this good. The golf course is really good.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah. It's amazing, yes.

Q. How is it different from when you won?

LEXI THOMPSON: That's a great question. Honestly, I always say I don't know if the course can get any better each and every year that I'm here shape-wise, and it always surprises me, it's always better.

Like I said earlier, the rough isn't too high, but it's still thick in some spots, so it's definitely important to take in the fairway. The greens are pretty firm, so coming into the greens from the fairway is definitely key.

But I don't know about different-wise. I can't really remember 2014, but I'm sure it was in great shape. Greens are always a bit firmer and rough is always up pretty good.

Q. I know you're young to be considered a veteran out here, but with this being the 51st event and the last one here. What's the sense of history with everything that's gone on here?

LEXI THOMPSON: I think what's so amazing is the history behind this tournament. Jumping into Poppie’s Pond's, putting the robe on on the 18th green, just the tradition and history behind it. To be able to walk up the 18th green and see my name there, it's pretty special.

To be able to have a partnership with Chevron, to come in and come take this event, I know it'll be moving, but at the same time we're not losing an event, we're gaining a partnership with Chevron, as well.

So I think it's great to see, and I'm sure that Houston will do it right and Chevron will as well. It's a great company to be a part of.

Q. You do have great history here. Everybody would probably love to be the last player to win here, last player to jump into the pond. I would think you would be at the top of that list because you played here so well so long.

LEXI THOMPSON: Uh-huh.

Q. Will it feel strange next April not coming back here? You played here obviously --

LEXI THOMPSON: Since I was 14.

Q. Exactly.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I played in this event quite a while now. A lot of great memories, a lot of special ones since I was very young.

It's definitely unfortunate that it will be moving from this special venue at Mission Hills. I think we're all about a bit bummer out about it, but at the same time, we're not losing the event, we're just losing the location.

Hopefully something will happen out of it. Maybe we have another event here, anything. Anything can happen.

Q. Please talk to the commissioner about that for us. My other question is going to be about 18. Last couple years they haven't had a backstop there.

LEXI THOMPSON: Uh-huh.

Q. I think the idea was that maybe people would go for it, and seemed to be the opposite thing happened.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah.

Q. Is there a point on 18 where you say to yourself, particularly with no backstop, yes, I can go from here or no I won't go from here?

LEXI THOMPSON: Well, from the back tee I think it's a three-shot hole no matter what. Even if you hit a good drive you have too far in to begin with, so if they move the tee up I think it all depends on the position you're in score-wise coming down the stretch and if it's worth doing.

If you have to make eagle or if you have to make -- basically eagle, I would go for it if I had a perfect number.

Because usually it would have to be a back right pin to be able to go for those holes for that green. There is no backstop and you have to have a perfect number, you have to have the height on the shot knowing that it'll stop.

Q. With it being the last week in the desert, what were you most looking forward to?

LEXI THOMPSON: What I'm looking forward to the most? Honestly just playing this amazing golf course. Hopefully we'll get a lot of fans out here to support us. I'm sure that it'll be great weather, even though yesterday wasn't. Hopefully got that out of way.

And just to embrace the whole experience of the last time being here, embrace the fans, and just get to play one of the best golf courses out there.

Q. As somebody that's been here since you were 14 years old, how have you seen this championship change throughout the years, for the good?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, of course. I think it's been nothing but in a great direction. Each and every year it's improved hospitality-wise, golf course condition-wise. It's hard to get better than what it is, but it keeps improving, just the shape of it.

Even I went to the champion's dinner last night and people with Chevron, they're like, If there is anything we can do to improve on the event, please let us know. It's truly amazing to hear that, that they're willing to do anything to make it one of the top tournaments, and what it deserves to be.

I think it'll be a great partnership with Chevron.

But over the years everything has improved. The hospitality, the way they treat us, the golf course, nothing ever lacks.

Q. Speaking of the champion's dinner, it's always a special night here at the Chevron Championship. How cool is it for you to sit at the tables you sit at, to be counted among the champions that have won this historic event?

LEXI THOMPSON: It's remarkable. Just to be in the same room with players that have made the game and jumped into Poppie’s Pond and done great things for the sport of women's golf in general, it's very special.

I definitely caught myself in the middle of dinner like, wow, this is a pretty amazing dinner to be a part of. It was a true honor to be there and a very special moment for me.

Q. Besides the obvious, what were some of your goals this week?

LEXI THOMPSON: Just going into the week, you know, I've had a few good tournaments already this year, so just go into it, take it one shot at a time. Obviously want to win, but take it one shot at a time and just have fun embracing the moments out there, embracing the fans, and enjoying every bit of it.

I love the atmosphere of this event, so just being here in general it's always special.