THE ANNIKA DRIVEN BY GAINBRIDGE AT PELICAN

November 9, 2023

Lexi Thompson

Pelican Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Lexi, impressive first round here. I know this place means a lot to you. What's it like to be back here?

LEXI THOMPSON: Oh, it's amazing. One of my favorite events. Of course it's in Florida. I get to drive to it. Just the hospitality that we receive from the Doyle family and just the Pelican Golf Club, it's top notch, and we're always just so excited to come back here.

I mean, the golf course is the best shape I've seen it. No complaints here.

Q. Talk us through your round today. Really nice score to get the competition moving.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I just went into the day knowing I had to make birdies. It was perfect weather, maybe five miles per hour when it gusted, so ideal weather for us.

I knew I had to make birdies, but I just tried to stick to my game plan with my swing shots and fire at the pins and give myself as many birdie opportunities.

I was lucky to do so and make a good amount of them and get on another streak in the second nine.

Q. First time we've seen you since that historic performance at the Shriners in Las Vegas. It's been a little bit. What have you been working on as you've gotten ready for this stretch here?

LEXI THOMPSON: Just the same things. That was a four-week stretch there and I played some good golf in those four weeks, so just really zoning in on those few key thoughts that I was working on and nothing else.

Not trying to get any more technical than I was and really just dial in on what I was working on, because there was still a few things that needed improvement.

I know that, but I had a few weeks off, so I needed to mentally reset as well.

Q. I know Solheim did a lot for your confidence. What did Shriners do for your confidence going out there and hanging with the guys?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, both did extreme amounts for my confidence, just being able to play aggressive golf. Solheim Cup is just so much pressure being able to play for your country, and being able to pull off shots under that kind of pressure, that means a lot and does a lot for your confidence when do you so.

To go to Shriners and just be able to rip driver everywhere and hit it as long as I can and just take advantage of that, really just see how my ball striking was and put it to a test, I enjoyed every bit of it, especially being with the kids.

It did more for me mentally I think than anything.

Q. What's been clicking? Four birdies today in a five-hole stretch. That has to be something. Finally firing on all cylinders.

LEXI THOMPSON: I would say just committing to my shots. I think I got to a point to where I wasn't really trusting myself. I think with what I'm working on with my coach, Tony, and really focusing in on that, on each and every shot and just believing in that, I think that's the biggest thing.

And then rolling a few putts on top of it always helps.

So, yeah, just sticking to that.

Q. What do you do when that doubt creeps in?

LEXI THOMPSON: Back off. Back off and hopefully it goes away. You know, golf, it does, you know. It's such a mental game. You have to be 100% committed. If you're not you just back away and you try to get rid of those thoughts and go into it with a positive attitude as best you can.

Q. Mindset heading into the next three days after a really, really hot start at a place you finished runner-up the last two years?

LEXI THOMPSON? Just come out -- I mean, I'm sure it'll be great weather I think the next few days, so come out with the same game plan today and fire at the pins and do my pre-shot routine on every shot and commit to my lines, and that's all I can do. Give myself as many birdie opportunities as I can.