SHRINERS CHILDREN'S OPEN

October 13, 2023

Lexi Thompson

TPC Summerlin

Quick Quotes

Q. You gave it a run there, 4-under through 11 holes, lost a couple coming back. How proud of your performance are you coming down the stretch?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, very proud. I played really well today, came out super early, and bogeyed 17 but made a great save on 18 there and just overall played very steady. As the day went on, I tried to stay committed to my targets out there and to my swing thoughts and just enjoyed the whole experience.

Q. I know you said making the cut would be a huge accomplishment. You weren't too focused on it, but was there a point out there you really felt it?

LEXI THOMPSON: I knew once I had made a few birdies in a row that I would be somewhat close, but I knew the cut line would keep on going lower and lower with these guys, especially with not that much wind out there. I just really tried to stay focused on my game and focused on my swing thoughts, picking small targets and staying 100 percent committed, and whatever happens happens. I hit some great shots coming in, even on my 17th hole, No. 8, and just ran through. But it's a 2-iron, so I can't really expect too much.

Q. What was the biggest challenge for you these two days?

LEXI THOMPSON: I would say the biggest challenge was -- I mean, on the golf course, probably just some of the pin locations. They tuck them very close to the edges to where you have to hit high shots and carry it and be able to stop it within two bunkers or a narrow part of the green. I would say that was the biggest part because I don't get it as far down as the guys, so I have a little bit longer of a shot. But I took my medicine and just hit to the fatter part of the green and gave myself a 25-, 30-footer and just made par on those kind of holes.

Q. Tom Kim was saying he has the same trouble because he's not -- he's hitting shots in that are hard to stop on these greens. Not just 8, but on 10 you hit a good shot in that rolled out. What do you take away from that, if anything? Is that just the breaks for you?

LEXI THOMPSON: Well, I think coming into the week, I knew that this golf course can play very firm and that the greens could get super bouncy, so I was expecting that. With it being a little bit more in the morning, I knew I could be a little more aggressive on some of them so they would stop a little bit quicker. But I had to play -- even with wedges, play for about five to seven of bounce-out, and that's not normal coming from a Florida golfer. It was something to get used to, but I knew coming into the week, that's how this course played.

Q. It's still fresh, but as you look back over the two days, what's the first thing that comes to your mind thinking about it right now?

LEXI THOMPSON: A few things. I mean, meeting some of the Shriners kids, ambassadors, was probably the highlight and just being with them, giving a clinic, giving golf lessons and just hopefully inspiring them to go after what they want. That was probably the most special.

Yeah, of course playing with the guys, amazing feeling, but growing up with guys, I've always wanted to be out on a PGA TOUR event and tee it up, but the biggest thing was seeing the kids out there outside the ropes and then meeting a few of the Shriners ambassadors. That was the most special.

Q. I know this is your fourth week in a row. Just want to ask how you're feeling. You've been hitting driver every hole. How are you physically?

LEXI THOMPSON: I'm tired. I'm very tired. I felt it last night, and then I knew it was a quick turnaround, so I was like, all right, go to bed, just try to get seven hours.

Yeah, my body is definitely feeling it, but knowing me I'll probably go to the gym this afternoon. It's just a mental outlet for me. But this is what I play for. This is why I work out and what I train for. I'm definitely tired. I'm looking forward to the three weeks of downtime.

Q. How are you going to enjoy the next few weeks? Will you work on anything? I know Pelican will be a big week for you.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, Pelican will be a big week for me. I have three weeks off, so I'm going to take the first week and kind of slow down a bit and really get that downtime and relax a bit, but the next two weeks I'll be training hard and working on a few things that I need to improve on, and going into Pelican, that's a big one, so we'll see.

Q. Anything in particular stand out that you're going to work on or maybe that you learned this week?

LEXI THOMPSON: I would say continue to just work on the few things that I've been working on in my golf swing and really fine tuning those. I think I'm moving in the right direction, really just focusing in on the positives and how I've played the last few weeks and really building on that.

But yeah, not over-grinding, but still fine tuning.

Q. I'm sure you're used to the golf part, but how draining was the outside forces of this week, doing all this and the crowds?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it was a lot, but it was expected. Coming into the week I knew it would be a lot. But that's why I have my family here, my loved ones, and to have that balance -- once I left here, I was shut off and just myself and I could relax as much as I wanted to.

But the media is part of it. That's the way to reach out to your fans, and seeing the fans out there and all the little girls, that's what it's all about.

Q. Was that energizing as well as draining, just the support you were getting out there?

LEXI THOMPSON: It was more energizing. Seeing the people out there and hearing the cheers and seeing all the little kids, that's what I play for. I think I said that on the last hole. A little kid screamed out, go Lexi, you're great, and that just makes my day. No matter what I'm shooting, I could shoot 80, and they'd be like, you did great.

That's what it's all about, just inspiring.