Lexi Thompson was all smiles while holding her Havapoo dog, Leo, and after she signed for a second round of 69 at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. But Leo wasn’t the only reason that Thompson had a grin on her face, as the winner of the 2015 Meijer LPGA Classic closed out her round on Friday with a flourish of birdies on three of her last four holes to give herself a chance this weekend at a second title at Blythefield Country Club.

“Ended up getting a few birdies coming in. That's all I could ask for,” Thompson said about the strong finish to her day. “Just tried to stay patient and positive.”

The balky putter that has plagued Thompson at times throughout her career came alive on day two. Thompson began her day with a birdie on the par-4 1st hole, and while she said she “fizzled” a bit over the opening stretch, the 11-time LPGA Tour winner said she tried to stay positive. Thompson gave up a shot on the par-4 9th hole, where she says she was proud to two-putt for bogey, and made the turn in even-par.

Then, on the back nine, Thompson said she gave herself a goal of having seven looks at birdie on her final seven holes. The first one she was able to convert came on the par-3 15th hole, where she made an unexpected birdie from off the collar and 25 feet from the hole.

“Wasn't really expecting to make that,” Thompson said after her round. “It was down the hill, right to left, so one I was just trying to get up there and par and ended up birdieing.”

On the difficult par-4 17th hole, she added another birdie from long range to her card, and at the closing par-5 18th, she kept her hopes for a closing birdie alive by relying on her strength to muscle her ball out of the thick rough and up and onto the putting surface for a look at one last birdie. Thompson then converted yet again to continue her climb up the leaderboard.

“I guess it's helpful I can get some power into that lie. It was pretty nasty in that right rough,” Thompson told Golf Channel about her recovery shot on 18. “I got it up there rolling, and I knew I had to carry it just about 140 and roll it a good 20 or 30.”

This week, Thompson is making her sixth start of the season on the LPGA Tour. In 2024, Thompson announced that she would be playing a limited schedule going forward, and the Meijer LPGA Classic was one of the events that made her must-play list for 2025, and understandably so. In addition to her victory in 2015, Thompson has seven top 10s in this event, three times finishing as runner-up, including most recently in 2024. Last season, Thompson went into a three-person playoff at the Meijer LPGA Classic with Grace Kim and Lilia Vu. After the trio played the 18th hole twice, they took on the par-5 4th hole, where Vu emerged victorious with birdie.

Now well-positioned with 36 holes to play, Thompson will have a chance to claim her first victory on the LPGA Tour since the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic in a place where she has thrived throughout her career.

“We always look forward to coming back because the golf course is in great shape. That's always one of the top things,” Thompson said about the Meijer LPGA Classic. “The hospitality we receive, not only are the fans incredible, so many come out, especially on the weekend. The crowds get huge, which we love. Just the hospitality through dining, volunteers, everybody is so nice to us. That's something I thoroughly enjoy.”

Lexi Thompson Climbs Meijer Leaderboard with Three Closing Birdies

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