For someone only 25, it’s staggering to travel back 10 years in time and still be talking about her exploits in professional golf. Yet, in the decade since Lexi Thompson played her first tournament as a pro at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, she has more than lived up to the enormous expectations of youth.
On June 16, 2010, Lexi teed it up for pay for the first time on a sponsor’s exemption at the ShopRite and although she earned nothing that week, missing the cut, later that summer she cashed in with a T-10 at the U.S. Women’s Open and T-2 at the Evian Masters. She was on her way at the tender age of 15.
A victory at the 2011 Navistar Classic in September earned her a card for the 2012 LPGA Tour season, even though she would only turn 17 on Feb. 10. Ever since, the numbers have piled up, detailing a list of accomplishments that, if printed out, would stretch the length of her 6-foot frame.
Now, like the world around her, Lexi is looking to get back to life as she knew it. In her case, that means adding to an already lengthy legacy and improving on her No. 9 spot in the Rolex Rankings. It’s safe to say that Thompson is chomping at the bit to resume competition.
“I’m definitely wanting to get back out there and play again,” Thompson said from her home in Delray Beach, Fla.
“At first, going into the 2020 season, I didn’t think I had much of a break with just a few weeks after the Shark Shootout [where she played with the guys] before Diamond Resorts,” she says. “Now it’s been too long of a break. I’ve put my training and practice time in and I’m looking forward to getting in competition mode again.”
Lexi competed twice before the season was shut down by the Coronavirus, finishing T-7 at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions and T-15 in the Gainbridge at Boca Rio. Since then, she’s been playing, practicing, working out and filling in the time usually spent in airports, on airplanes and in hotels in other ways.
“I’ve been home in Delray Beach the whole time,” Thompson said. “I’ve been with my family a good amount since they only live 15 minutes away.” And while Covid-19 had the courses in Palm Beach County closed for a bit, she still found ways to keep her game sharp.
“I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to play every other day,” Lexi says. “I’ve had to drive up to Martin County to walk and play Turtle Creek, but now Trump International is open so I go to both courses.”
She also installed a SkyTrak simulator in her garage and a Perfect Practice putting mat in her house to help work on her game. But, like the rest of us, she has those other hours in her day to fill.
“I bought a spin bike so I’ve been doing two spin classes a day and my exercises trying to pass two or three hours of the day,” she says. “And then I’ve been watching a ton of Netflix,” she says with a laugh. “Shows I’ve watched: All American, Ozark, How to Get Away with Murder, Dexter, Elite, Money Heist.”
When the season does resume – the plans are for the LPGA schedule to get things going again in early July – Lexi has an impressive resume to which she can add.
Her 11 career wins include a major championship at the 2014 ANA Inspiration. In 2017, she won both the Race to the CME Globe and the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average. For seven consecutive seasons, she’s won at least once on the LPGA Tour with 62 top-10 finishes, 15 of those coming in majors.
And while seven years in a row with a win is impressive – she picked up career win No. 11 at last year’s ShopRite Classic – she downplays the achievement, saying it is merely the result of the winning attitude she brings to the course every time she competes.
“It is special, but it’s not something I think about,” Lexi says. “I go into every event wanting to win. That’s always my mindset. I practice and train a lot in my off time so that way I can just go to my events and play.”
Since the second half of the 2018 season, Lexi’s constant traveling companion has been her dog, Leo, a Havanese and miniature poodle mix. When she is not competing, they are inseparable. Like Lexi, Leo is straining at the leash to get back on the road.
“He probably does think it’s very weird [that we are home all the time], but at the same time he’s absolutely loving that we have so much time together,” she says. “I can’t wait to start playing and travel with him.”
Nothing about Thompson’s life in golf has been normal since she qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 12. And while the new normal is still being defined by the Covid-19 crisis, Lexi knows hers will include competing – and winning.
A decade after turning pro and in her ninth season as an LPGA member, that’s the way it’s always been for Lexi – competing and winning. In that regard, her new normal will likely look a lot like the old.
On June 16, 2010, Lexi teed it up for pay for the first time on a sponsor’s exemption at the ShopRite and although she earned nothing that week, missing the cut, later that summer she cashed in with a T-10 at the U.S. Women’s Open and T-2 at the Evian Masters. She was on her way at the tender age of 15.
A victory at the 2011 Navistar Classic in September earned her a card for the 2012 LPGA Tour season, even though she would only turn 17 on Feb. 10. Ever since, the numbers have piled up, detailing a list of accomplishments that, if printed out, would stretch the length of her 6-foot frame.
Now, like the world around her, Lexi is looking to get back to life as she knew it. In her case, that means adding to an already lengthy legacy and improving on her No. 9 spot in the Rolex Rankings. It’s safe to say that Thompson is chomping at the bit to resume competition.
“I’m definitely wanting to get back out there and play again,” Thompson said from her home in Delray Beach, Fla.
“At first, going into the 2020 season, I didn’t think I had much of a break with just a few weeks after the Shark Shootout [where she played with the guys] before Diamond Resorts,” she says. “Now it’s been too long of a break. I’ve put my training and practice time in and I’m looking forward to getting in competition mode again.”
Lexi competed twice before the season was shut down by the Coronavirus, finishing T-7 at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions and T-15 in the Gainbridge at Boca Rio. Since then, she’s been playing, practicing, working out and filling in the time usually spent in airports, on airplanes and in hotels in other ways.
“I’ve been home in Delray Beach the whole time,” Thompson said. “I’ve been with my family a good amount since they only live 15 minutes away.” And while Covid-19 had the courses in Palm Beach County closed for a bit, she still found ways to keep her game sharp.
“I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to play every other day,” Lexi says. “I’ve had to drive up to Martin County to walk and play Turtle Creek, but now Trump International is open so I go to both courses.”
She also installed a SkyTrak simulator in her garage and a Perfect Practice putting mat in her house to help work on her game. But, like the rest of us, she has those other hours in her day to fill.
“I bought a spin bike so I’ve been doing two spin classes a day and my exercises trying to pass two or three hours of the day,” she says. “And then I’ve been watching a ton of Netflix,” she says with a laugh. “Shows I’ve watched: All American, Ozark, How to Get Away with Murder, Dexter, Elite, Money Heist.”
When the season does resume – the plans are for the LPGA schedule to get things going again in early July – Lexi has an impressive resume to which she can add.
Her 11 career wins include a major championship at the 2014 ANA Inspiration. In 2017, she won both the Race to the CME Globe and the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average. For seven consecutive seasons, she’s won at least once on the LPGA Tour with 62 top-10 finishes, 15 of those coming in majors.
And while seven years in a row with a win is impressive – she picked up career win No. 11 at last year’s ShopRite Classic – she downplays the achievement, saying it is merely the result of the winning attitude she brings to the course every time she competes.
“It is special, but it’s not something I think about,” Lexi says. “I go into every event wanting to win. That’s always my mindset. I practice and train a lot in my off time so that way I can just go to my events and play.”
Since the second half of the 2018 season, Lexi’s constant traveling companion has been her dog, Leo, a Havanese and miniature poodle mix. When she is not competing, they are inseparable. Like Lexi, Leo is straining at the leash to get back on the road.
“He probably does think it’s very weird [that we are home all the time], but at the same time he’s absolutely loving that we have so much time together,” she says. “I can’t wait to start playing and travel with him.”
Nothing about Thompson’s life in golf has been normal since she qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 12. And while the new normal is still being defined by the Covid-19 crisis, Lexi knows hers will include competing – and winning.
A decade after turning pro and in her ninth season as an LPGA member, that’s the way it’s always been for Lexi – competing and winning. In that regard, her new normal will likely look a lot like the old.
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