Lexi Thompson isn’t done yet. Not yet a month removed from announcing her plans to step away from a full-time schedule after this season, Thompson finds herself holding the first-round lead at a major championship for only the third time in her career.
Thompson birdied the first three holes in Thursday’s opening round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship en route to a 4-under 68 at the stunning and shockingly narrow Sahalee Country Club. She’s one shot ahead of World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Patty Tavatanakit on a star-studded leaderboard. Ten players are two shots back.
“Just tried to stay in the moment out there and really visualize my shots and pick small targets and just commit to it,” said Thompson, who hasn’t won on tour since 2019 but came up just short in a playoff last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic.
It was the first week Thompson had veteran caddie Mark Wallington on the bag. Thompson said the pair have had a great friendship on tour for years but had never worked together.
“We always have a good laugh with each other and really look for each other in a friendship when needed,” she said.
“So I was like, you know what? This sounds great. Let’s just work together and see how it does. No matter what, we’ll always have that friendship and bond. That will never leave us.”
It’s been three years since Tavatanakit won the ANA Inspiration and Lousie Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honors. She spent time in the valley after that win and came out wiser for it.
