PELICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

November 13, 2022

Lexi Thompson

Pelican Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Lexi Thompson. Another great round here at Pelican. What is it about this course that just really seems to suit you? You seem so comfortable out there.

LEXI THOMPSON: I think it's just an amazing layout of a golf course and always in spectacular shape for us. That's never a doubt.

The greens are so pure. They might have been a touch slower just because of all the rain, but you know if you just put a good stroke on it the ball is going to roll so purely, and that is always a helping matter.

It's just a great layout I just enjoy the atmosphere of this event.

Q. It's a golf cliche, comes down to a match play situation. It really was at the end battling between you and Nelly down the stretch. How aware were you of the scores or how much were paying attention?

LEXI THOMPSON: I actually didn't know. I made a few bogeys on the back but then bounced back with a few birdies, and I figured I was somewhat kind of up there, but I tried not to focus on it at all and just really focus on my own shots, one shot at a time and what I've been working on with my game.

That's all I could do. So focusing on other people wasn't going to do me any good.

Q. Walk us through the third shot on 18? Were able to get some relief there.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah. Ended up being still fairway because it was the same cut as the bank that everybody has been getting relief from. Ended up getting relief there and hit a nice chip up to about two feet.

Got lucky, but wasn't planning on having 188 in either after my duck hook.

Q. Your game seems so much freer now. What is it about either your mindset or what you've been working on that has got you to this point?

LEXI THOMPSON: I think it's a little bit of both. Golf is such a mental game that I think my mindset right now is just it is what it is. I mean, I've been putting in the hours and the hard work, and if it doesn't show out when I'm playing, I mean, there is nothing I can do about it.

I know I put in the time and the dedication in the gym and on the golf course. It's a matter of just coming out here and believing in that and just letting it go. I can't force it. I put in the work, so forcing things never gets me anywhere.

Q. I want to ask you two bad breaks, 12 and 17, because looked like you hit both of those shots exactly the way you wanted to; is that correct?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, 12 I definitely would've liked it to have landed it a little bit further. I got just a touch in front of my shot there, but it was still very solid, but didn't get the height that usually my 9-iron doesn't and didn't get the downwind; and then with a little bit of softer I guess it just spun back.

That's the thing about that hole. It's tough.

And 17, yeah, I mean, I definitely played it the way I wanted to. Didn't land as far back as I needed to or planned to in my mind, and then just ended up spinning back and taking that right slope, which was unfortunate.

Hit it good chip, so...

Q. Are you proud of how you battled back after the bogeys at 11, 12?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I very much am. I think in previous years if that would've happened I would've let it get to me, or even after hitting it in the water I could have let that get to me.

I was like, all right, snap out of it. Yeah, you're not happy right now, but getting even more upset isn't going to do me any good.

So I was like, all right, let's get the bogey, bounce back with a few birdies coming in and see where that goes.

Q. How does your brother, this particular brother, help you on the bag?

LEXI THOMPSON: On the bag? Just being there for me. There isn't one particular thing that he helped me out with. It's just everything. Him being there by my side. He knows my game. He's around it every single day.

So just having the comfort of him by my side, keeping me laughing. We just joke around a good amount. He said something on like 18 tee, like I'm a plethora of nonsense information. I'm like, that's good. That's what I need on my bag. (Laughing.)

He was just joking about his kids and just fun facts about ducks or something. I don't know even know. It's just nice to have family by my side to get me through times.

Q. Is he caddieing next week?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, he is, so I'm just very grateful to have him there.

Q. What did you end up with at 18?

LEXI THOMPSON: Too far. I had 188. I ended up hitting my 2-iron, yeah, because I knew like if I did, if I pushed it, it was going to carry, so...

Q. There are a handful of people in the world who can do what you accomplished over the last few years.

LEXI THOMPSON: Thank you.

Q. Do you vacillate between pride and frustration with how close you've been in so many different tournaments?

LEXI THOMPSON: I mean, sometimes I guess. It's pretty frustrating to be as close and not get as many wins as I would've liked. That's golf. That's what so crazy about this game. You lose more than you win unfortunately.

You're constantly learning, and that's what I keep on telling myself every time I tee it up. If it doesn't go my way, what can I build off? What can I learn? What kind of shot can I, you know, backtrack to?

So I'm constantly learning, and that's what I've been feeding back to, which is positive.

Q. Final question: You're so comfortable here a little Pelican. We are going to another course next week at Tiburon where you're incredibly comfortable. How are you feeling getting ready finally for the last event of the year?

LEXI THOMPSON: I feel great. You know, this a top-notch event. The Doyle family does amazing things for this event, the hospitality we receive. The course crew did amazing things with this golf course with five inches of rain. The course was in spectacular shape.

I think we're all just grateful to have another event in Florida; to have one this of caliber is one of a kind. We're very grateful.

Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to going into next week. Kind of a hometown event I guess. I'll have a lot of family and friends out there supporting me, which I absolutely love. I'll go home for a night, spend a night my bed, and drive over tomorrow afternoon and get some practice in it.

I'm looking forward to playing another amazing golf course.