NAPLES, Fla – Saturday, there was no mistaking the lone female in the field at the QBE Shootout. Lexi Thompson was dressed head to toe in neon pink. Wearing a hot pink visor, shirt, shoes, glove and ribbon in her hair, she climbed to the top of the leaderboard alongside her playing partner Tony Finau. The format on day two at Tiburón Golf Club was modified alternate shot, with both players hitting a tee shot before selecting a drive and alternating from there. The team, who began the day just two-back of the lead, at one point climbed into a four-way share of the lead at 15-under par but finished the day three back with a second round 67. The teams of Gary Woodland and Charley Hoffman, Graeme McDowell and Emiliano Grillo and Patton Kizzire and Brian Harman lead at 19-under par.
“We just didn’t have a few of those putts drop when we needed to,” Thompson said. “But we both played good golf. We’ll take that into tomorrow.”
With Finau one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour, the team opted to use many of his drives throughout the round. That put Thompson in the driver’s seat when it came to putting her team on the green. She knocked it close at the sixth and 11th holes, which Finau converted for birdies. But the team failed to capitalize on several other opportunities as they struggled to find a rhythm in the modified alternate shot format.
“We’re birdie machines when it comes to making birdies on our Tours,” Finau said. “We’ll be looking to try and make some birdies tomorrow and see if we can make a run.”
Sunday is a best ball format for the final day of the QBE Shootout. Thompson and Finau tee off at 10:20 a.m. along with Charles Howell III and Luke List.
)
)
)
)
