Lexi Ready to Start Her Engine and More from Indy

LEXI’S READY TO START HER ENGINE

It’s been one month since top-ranked American Lexi Thompson has teed it up at an LPGA tournament. Two weeks ago, Thompson made the admittedly tough decision to skip the Ricoh Women’s British Open to give herself a well-needed mental and physical break.

“It was definitely a hard decision for me,” Thompson said on Wednesday. “I never want to skip that event. It's just a very prestigious event. But with how I was just mentally and emotionally, I wasn't ready to compete there.

“I felt like, if I skipped that tournament, it allowed me to have those four weeks of just figuring myself out a little bit, give myself the rest needed, and come out to the last seven or eight tournaments I have left refreshed.”

Thompson is rested and back in action this week to defend her title at the second edition of the Indy Women in Tech Championship Driven by Group 1001. In 2017, Thompson became the first woman to kiss the bricks after a victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and she hopes to draw on those positive memories this week.

“It was a pretty special event, especially just for the first year of the event. It was great to see just how well this tournament was run, and just the amount of fans that were out here supporting us. And that's really what we want to see. It's a very unique event, having those last four holes on the track and it's something you will never see.” 

IN HER WORDS – LEXI THOMPSON ON MISSING THE RICOH WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN

“The last year and a half, I have honestly been struggling a lot emotionally, and it's hard because I can't really show it. I went through a lot of things, especially last year with ANA, my mom going through cancer, then my grandma passing away. It was just it was so much to deal with. And I had to show that I was still okay and still play golf. And I don't even know how I played that well, honestly.  And I think it just kind of all hit me coming into this year. You can only stay strong for so long and hide it.  I am a very strong person, but at times you just need a break, you need to realize you need to have time for yourself. I mean, I'm a 23-year-old girl, and that's what a lot of people don't realize.  I'm not just a golfer, I need to have a life as well and enjoy it.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEFENDING CHAMPION LEXI THOMPSON

• In 2017, Lexi Thompson won the inaugural Indy Women in Tech Championship event with a 19-under 197 at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, to beat out Lydia Ko by four strokes
• After capturing the victory in 2017, Thompson became the first woman in history to kiss the bricks after a victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway; she participated in the traditional Indianapolis 500 celebration of dousing herself with milk on the Yard of Bricks and finished off her celebration by taking victory laps behind the driver’s seat of a Corvette
• In 2018, Thompson has made 13 cuts in 13 starts, with five top-10 finishes including a season-best runner-up finish at the Honda LPGA Thailand
• In 2017, Thompson became the first American winner of the Race to the CME Globe and the accompanying $1 million prize; she also won the Vare Trophy for having the lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour
• At No. 5 in the Rolex Rankings, Thompson is the highest ranked American player and is set to lead Team USA at the 2018 UL International Crown in Korea in October

KO BACK TO GIVE CHASE IN INDY

Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson were tied at 15-under par entering the final round of last year’s IWiT Championship. Playing together in the final group, Ko’s even par 72 wasn’t enough to hang with Thompson’s 4-under par 68 and resulted in the tenth runner-up finish of the young Kiwi’s career.

It was still a record-breaking day for Ko as she became the fastest player to reach $8 million in career earnings at last year’s event – she has since also added her name as the fastest to $9 million.

Ko said of coming back to Indy, “It's definitely always nice to be back at a golf course that you have played well at. And I have a lot of great memories here and now this year they're supporting. And hopefully we're going to show more amazing golf to all the fans that come out.”

SCHUBERT MAKES PROFESSIONAL DEBUT

When Sophia Schubert was offered a sponsor’s exemption for this week’s IWiT Championship she decided to take the plunge and make this her professional debut. The 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion has made three career starts on the LPGA as an amateur, including making the cut at the 2017 Evian Championship, but she said her mindset has shifted now.  

“The other three events I played in as an amateur, I was just out there for the experience and to have fun,” Schubert said. “And so now it's a little different being a professional. It's my job now. And so I'm just really excited to be out here and get even more experience.” 

LEXI HOSTS MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY, UNVEILS NEW RED BULL CAN

On Sunday in San Antonio, Lexi Thompson hosted more than 500 military personnel for a free day of Topgolf, brunch and unveiled her new limited-edition Red Bull Energy Drink can. Red Bull North America also made a donation to Thompson’s charitable partner, the Seal Legacy Foundation, as part of the event.

“It’s always an honor to spend time with our active military and veterans. It was particularly special to share the first look at my Red Bull can with all those who serve!” Thompson said.