Lexi Thompson downplayed that announcing her retirement was the key to rediscovering her prime form. The 29-year-old shared at the U.S. Women’s Open that this would be her final season of full-time play on the LPGA. After missing the cut at Lancaster Country Club, she has played some of her best golf in years.
Thompson was topped by Lilia Vu in last week’s Meijer LPGA Classic in a three-way playoff. The American continued her stellar play with a four-under 68 Thursday in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to take the outright lead after the first round of a major for the first time in her 13-year career.
“I don’t think that has to do anything with announcing what I did,” Thompson said. “It’s just a matter of being comfortable out there and playing free-swing Lexi and just enjoying being out there every step of the way.”
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Thompson felt she found something in her swing on Tuesday of last week that allowed her to slow down her tempo, unlocking a free-flowing nature. Over her last five rounds, she has hit 78.9 percent of greens in regulation, over eight percent higher than her season average (70.5 percent). She hit 14 greens in her opening round at Sahalee Country Club.
