BELATED BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR XI YU LIN

Xi Yu Lin celebrated her 20th birthday yesterday with a dinner in Thailand with some Tour mates and caddie, Mardi Lunn. The China native said she did receive a few presents but gave herself the biggest gift of all a day later.

With a stroke of her 22-degree hybrid from 179 yards on the par 3 16th hole, Lin won a 2016 Honda Accord 2.4EL 5AT for her second-career hole-in-one. Her shot landed 35 feet past the hole and slowly rolled back toward the pin but out of sight from Lin, her playing partners and spectators.

“No, I didn’t, because I saw my ball land on the slope, and I saw it start coming back, and I thought, hmm, it’s going to be close to the pin, and I hear my caddie saying, ‘Let’s just get in the hole,’” said Lin. “I’m like, ‘no way.’ Then when I picked the tee up and walked to the back, and I really just couldn’t believe it.”

Lin becomes the first player in the tournament’s 10-year history to walk away with the hole-in-one prize.

“Oh, that’s my honor,” said Lin. “It’s funny, yesterday I hit the same club, and my ball finished, I think, like a yard from the hole today, so I was thinking, okay, tomorrow it’s going to be the same strategy for me, so I just hit exactly the same club, the same way to hit it, and it’s the same way, so it did go in. It worked.”

Lin’s first hole-in-one came in the second round of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open last year. She didn’t want to believe it went in today until she was standing over the hole and said she’s going to make sure to get a good look at her new wheels tomorrow in the third round. Lin just got her driver’s license in the U.S. last year and has yet to purchase her own car.

“I’m going to go have a look tomorrow,” said Lin. “When I walked off the tee, I just didn’t believe. I was thinking they were kidding, so I didn’t really look at the car, but it’s funny, like then on the 17th hole I see the group behind coming in, and I was thinking, okay, don’t touch my car, that’s my car.”

(NO. 1) AMERICAN WOMAN

Lexi Thompson has a chance to improve on her goal of getting to the No. 1 spot in the world but could first take another coveted title with a strong finish this week in Thailand. Thompson could pass Stacy Lewis this week for the top-ranked American designation but it’s not something that is top of mind.

“You know, it’s not really on my mind, obviously,” said Thompson. “This tournament is just on my mind right now. My No. 1 goal going into this week was to win, but being the top American in the world is a big deal. But I’m just going to play my game and just try to do my best. If it happens, it happens.”

Thompson can jump Lewis if she wins and Lewis finishes in a tie for second or worse. Thompson could also make the move if she finishes in solo second and Lewis finishes in a solo 21st place or worse. Other scenarios depend on Lewis’ finishing position taking ties into account.

Lewis has been the top-ranked American since June 4, 2012 when she took over for Cristie Kerr. She shot 5-under 67 on Friday to move up the leaderboard into a tie for 16th after shooting 75 in the first round.

Notes and Interviews: Rd.2 Honda LPGA Thailand

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