CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY | Twenty-seven-year-old Lexi Thompson finished her Friday morning at the Cognizant Founders Cup with a tap-in par after a birdie putt caught the edge of the hole on 18 but failed to fall. She wasn’t too displeased. Thompson shot 66 on Friday to enter the weekend at 11-under par, tied for second and three behind leader Minjee Lee.
Thompson has finished in the top-10 three times in five starts this year, but she hasn't won an event since the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer.
"Honestly, my overall goal going into every week is just trying to stay positive and enjoy my time out on the golf course with my caddie. Just staying patient. I've made a lot of great putts and hit a lot of good shots. So just keeping that momentum going and staying in the moment," Thompson said.
Sitting at no. 9 in the Rolex Rankings, Thompson has placed in the top-10 a staggering 80 times during her 15-year professional career.
"I like to pick and choose which events I want to play in, and which golf courses suit my game the best. I don't like to play more than two or three weeks in a row. I feel like that gets me more mentally prepared for the weeks I do play," she said.
Lexi said that she goes into every tournament with the same mindset, and the Founders Cup is no different – she wants to win.
“I know I've said this a few times, but I put in the work back at home, put in the hours and the practice, so just coming out here and believing in myself and letting it show. So going into the weekend, (I’m going to) play how I have the last two days and see what that brings,” she said.
Thompson's first round at the Cognizant Founders Cup proved challenging, but she ended day two with six birdies placing her at the top of the leaderboard.
"I had a rough front nine yesterday. I shot one over, and I just loaded up on the front nine, but I tried to keep that momentum going into today and keep the pedal down, focusing on my shots and my emotions, and that's all I can control," Lexi said.
The American said yesterday was an off day, but she was proud of herself for turning it around and came into today with a good start.
"They moved quite a few tees up. We've had perfect conditions, very little wind, and the course is in amazing shape, so if you're rolling your putts, it's not going to bounce. They're rolling so pure," she said.
After a bogey-free round on Friday, Lexi said you have to hit the fairways to be able to come into some greens with false fronts and get the ball to stop successfully.
"I hit quite a few drivers out there. There are a few holes I don't have a choice; I have to hit a 2-iron off the tee. Besides that, I mean, I take the driver everywhere," she said.
Thompson said she saw a few pins for tomorrow and anticipates the course playing tougher. However, she won't change her strategy. Lexi has been playing confidently off the tee with a driver and committing to her lines.
"My routine is my set routine. It's down to the minute. I don't change that at all. If I'm struggling that round, I'll go and work on it the next morning before my next round. But finishing the way I did yesterday on my second nine, I felt pretty good about it," she said.
With the major championship season right around the corner, Thompson will soon return to the U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles, where she first played as a 12-year-old.
"It'll be amazing to go back to Pine Needles,” she said. “I probably won't remember too much. A little bit more prep work going into the week.”
)
)
)
)
