Lexi Thompson fires 68 to seize lead at Women’s PGA Championship

WASHINGTON – Lexi Thompson does not feel that she has a point to prove, or that she is extra motivated to win her second Major following the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship, just because she is retiring soon.

On June 20, the American birdied the first three holes on her way to a four-under 68, clinging to a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Women’s PGA Championship.

The 29-year-old, who announced in May that this will be her final LPGA season, was one shot ahead of top-ranked compatriot Nelly Korda and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington.

“It was overall just a great day,” Thompson said. “I played solid golf. Had a good start so I tried to just keep on rolling with that. There are a lot of tough holes out there (but) I felt very comfortable.”

She credits her solid play to swing changes and not her retirement revelation.

“I kind of clicked into something with my golf swing,” she added. “I don’t think that has anything to do with announcing what I did. It’s just a matter of being comfortable and a free-swinging Lexi I guess.”

Thompson has not won any title since the 2022 Ladies European Tour event in New York and has not clinched an LPGA event since capturing her 11th at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic.

To go out with a bang would be the perfect retirement gift, but there are still three rounds to go.

Korda has won six LPGA titles this season, including her second Major at the Chevron Championship (previously the Kraft Nabisco Championship) in April, and the Americas Open in May for a sixth win in seven starts.

But she missed the cut at the US Women’s Open and last week’s Meijer LPGA Classic and has been trying to recapture her top form with another Major trophy at stake.

The reigning Olympic champion reeled off three consecutive birdies at one stretch to stay near the top.

“This golf course is so tough. It’s critical to hit the fairway. It’s so demanding off the tee so anything under par is a good score,” the 25-year-old said.

On her topsy-turvy season so far, she added: “That’s just golf. It’s just such a roller coaster. You have to have faith and you have to keep working hard, then pick a game plan and start fresh every week.”

Patty won her only Major at the 2021 ANA Inspiration (now Chevron Championship) but claimed two other titles this past February in Saudi Arabia and Thailand and had a bogey-free round.

“I feel like I wasn’t chasing perfection out there,” she said.

“Therefore I could come out naturally and be a free golfer out there. I found something out there. A lot of commitment and trust, hit my shot with full energy and just pray. It worked out great.”

A pack on 70 included England’s Charley Hull, Ireland’s Leona Maguire, France’s Celine Boutier and Japan’s Hinako Shibuno.

In men’s golf, Tom Kim of South Korea birdied his final two holes to break away from the pack and secure the first-round lead at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.

One day shy of his 22nd birthday on June 21, he posted an eight-under 62 at TPC River Highlands to build a two-shot cushion over Rickie Fowler, Will Zalatoris, Akshay Bhatia and Kurt Kitayama.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is part of a tie at five-under 65.

Kim, who shares a birthday with the 28-year-old Scheffler, said he celebrated quite simply earlier this week.

“We had some pizza early on in the week. I had a lot of pizza,” he said.

“I kind of told myself, I wouldn’t do that in a tournament, but it’s my birthday and it’s kind of a tradition. Me, Scottie, we have the same birthday, so we had an early birthday celebration.” AFP, REUTERS