There’s no doubt Lexi Thompson will remember April 6, 2014, for the rest of her life.
That’s when the leggy Floridian became the second-youngest player in LPGA history to win a major after the 19-year-old outdueled friend Michelle Wie at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Thompson, now 20, carded a final-round 68 to finish three shots clear of Wie and earn $300,000 and the right to take a plunge in Poppy’s Pond.
“Well, it was an amazing day,” Thompson said after the big win. “It was definitely what I’ve been practicing for, what I live for, to play under that pressure and to get a major win under my belt, especially the Kraft Nabisco. It’s such a huge honor to win this tournament.
“It’s a great feeling. This was one of my goals coming into the year, to win a major. I’ve always seen myself winning a Kraft Nabisco. It’s such a huge honor with all the history behind the tournament. It’s just a dream come true.”
Not only was the victory Thompson’s first major title, but it sparked what would become one of the best seasons of her budding career. The four-time LPGA champion went on to make 21 of 25 cuts and rack up $946,764 in earnings to finish 12th on the LPGA money list and edge closer to the $3 million mark in career earnings.
Thompson’s triumph was part of a hot streak that included five consecutive top 10s, and she has been solid again so far this season. She has made all four cuts, has recorded three top-25 finishes and is in fine form heading into next week’s ANA Inspiration at a course she adores.
That’s why she has to be among the favorites listed for the Tour’s first major, and considering her career record when pressure of professional golf is at its zenith, Thompson would be a good bet to contend for another dip next Sunday.
Thompson showed her mettle in majors last year, recording three of her eight top 10s for the season and adding a 17th-place finish in the five majors. She is routinely one of the best major championship players, and Thompson has made 17 cuts in the 22 majors in which she has played since 2007.
Perhaps because of her immense length – Thompson ranked second on Tour in driving distance last season – and her mental toughness honed from a young age, Thompson was made for majors. Whether she’ll add another huge accolade to her growingly impressive resume remains to be seen, but Thompson will definitely be one to watch in the California desert a week from now.
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