COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

May 13, 2022

Lexi Thompson

Upper Montclair Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Lexi Thompson, 6-under 66 today. What did you find around this golf course that helped you to your score today?

LEXI THOMPSON: Honestly during the practice rounds it was super windy Monday through Wednesday, so wasn't much of a test how it has been the last two days.

So I just went into the first round just focusing on doing my pre-shot routine, committing to my golf shots, and I've made a lot of great putts and hit a lot of good shots.

So just keeping that momentum going, staying in the moment.

Q. We've seen a couple 9-unders out here. You shot a 6-under today. That's a pretty low score. Did you see these kind of numbers early this week?

LEXI THOMPSON: No, not when it was blowing 25 miles per hour and they were playing it super long. I definitely didn't see it. They moved quite a few tees up, and, I mean, we've had perfect conditions, very little wind, and the course is in amazing shape, so you know if you're just rolling your putts you know it's not going to bounce. They're rolling so pure.

So definitely didn't see those scores Monday through Wednesday, but how the weather conditions have been, yes. But I'm sure I saw a few pins that were going to be there for tomorrow and it's going to play tougher.

Q. 6-under, six birdies on the card; no bogeys. Played really well yesterday afternoon. What were the differences in the conditions between yesterday afternoon and this morning?

LEXI THOMPSON: I would say maybe just a little softer greens but they were still somewhat soft yesterday, receptive.

But I had a rough front nine yesterday or my first nine. I shot 1-over and I just loaded up on the front nine, but I just tried to take that momentum going into today and just really just try to keep the pedal down, focus on my shots and my emotions, and that's all I can control.

See what the weekend brings.

Q. How do you bounce back from that tough front nine?

LEXI THOMPSON: You know, just staying patient. I through there were birdie opportunities on the front nine and I knew I been playing well and stroking it well. Just had to stay in the moment and not get too down.

It's easy to do with golf, but, you know, stayed patient and made a lot of birdies on the second nine.

Q. You've been really close the last few months, getting three top 10s. What are your goals for this week?

LEXI THOMPSON: For this week, honestly my overall goal going into every week was just trying to stay positive and just enjoy my time out on the golf course with my caddie. Just stay patient.

I know I've said that a few times, but I put in the work back at home, put in the hours and the practice, so just coming out here and believing in myself and letting show.

It's taken a lot of pressure off just going out there and relaxing. So going into the weekend, play how I have the last two days and see what that brings.

Q. I know we're talking about Founders. But your first U.S. Women's Open was at Pine Needles at 12 years old.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah.

Q. We're headed back there this year. Are you trying to build momentum leading to that event?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, of course. It'll be amazing to go back to Pine Needles. Probably won't remember too much except for the first tee ball.

I'm really looking forward to going to Pine Needles. It's a great golf course, lots of amazing memories, and I'll have my parents there.

Yeah, I'll definitely hopefully build off this. I'll have two more weeks off after this event as well. I'll go back home, make sure I practice hard, and get everything in tune for the U.S. Women's Open.

Q. There are a lot of great golfers out here and it must be tough to win. Is it hard to sit down and think it's been. 19 since you won an event?

LEXI THOMPSON: Is it hard?

Q. Yeah.

LEXI THOMPSON: No.

Q. So you're kind of taking the pressure off yourself and...

LEXI THOMPSON: No, the talent out here is truly amazing. I mean, it's tough to win. All I can do is control my emotions and how much hard work I put in, and I know the amount of work that I put into it, so if it doesn't happen, doesn't happen.

It's not the end of my life.

Q. Coming back on the back nine where yesterday you made a couple bogeys, how do you approach it with like a clear head and not let what you did yesterday interfere with today?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, of course. That's a great question. My front nine was definitely a little sketchy. Wasn't my best ball striking. Just felt a little bit out of it.

But I just tried to scratch that going into the turn. You know, my 10th hole was No. 1 so it was like, all right, new nine. Let's just start scratch and let's just fire away at the pins and commit to my shots. That's all I can do.

If it was an off day, it was an off day. I ended up turning it into a good round, so I was very proud of myself. Then I came into today with a good start as well.

Q. Is there anything you did differently to warm up to get you prepared for your first nine holes today rather than anything you did yesterday?

LEXI THOMPSON: Nothing different. Just making sure that I'm staying fully relaxed. My routine is like my set routine. It's down to the minute. I don't change that at all.

Somethings if I'm struggling that round I'll go and work on the next morning before my next round, but finishing the way I did yesterday on my second nine, I felt pretty good about it.

I just did the same warmup routine and felt good about it.

Q. So this season you've only made five starts; skipped the Asia swing. I just wanted to ask, are you trying to conserve energy going into the thick of the season and into major championship season?

LEXI THOMPSON: That's another good question. You know, yes, I am. At the same time, I like to pick and chose which events I want to play in and which golf courses suit my game the best.

But definitely conserve energy. I don't like to play more than two, three weeks in a row. I love my time at home with my family and friends. I feel like that gets me more mentally prepared for the weeks I do play, so I'm enjoying that time.

Q. Obviously you have two more rounds here this week.

LEXI THOMPSON: Uh-huh.

Q. I'm sure you're looking forward to that.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah.

Q. Going into the summer and going into major championship season, do you have maybe a different mindset? Are you approaching it differently than in years past?

LEXI THOMPSON: Not too much of a different mindset. Going into majors I have the same mindset: I want to win. I think we all do. We all go into every event wanting to win.

Probably a little bit more prep work going into the week, into majors, but no different.

Q. And then just last question from me: Bringing it back to this week, you notoriously are one of the longest hitters on tour. This is a golf course that's pretty narrow off the tee. Some of the tee shots you've got little landing strips to just hit it in.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah.

Q. When you're in contention come Sunday, what do you do off the tee? Do you feel like this is a place you can really take out driver and rip at it, or do you play a little bit more back?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I actually do hit quite a few drivers out here. There are a few holes I don't have a choice; I have to hit like a 2-iron off the tee.

Besides that, I mean, take driver everywhere. I'm very confident with my driver, so really just committing to your lines. The fairways are very narrow. Rough isn't super thick.

But you got to hit it in the fairways coming into some of these greens with the false front and get the max stop that you can or max spin. So it's important, but you just have to commit to your lines.

Q. Do you always carry a 2-iron or is that just in the bag this week?

LEXI THOMPSON: I always carry one. It's a driving 2-iron. Yeah, always have it.

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