LEXI THOMPSON
SHE was America’s golden girl. She qualified for the US Women’s Open at age 12, turned pro at 15 and became the youngest ever LPGA Tour winner the following year. She won her first major at 19 and looked set to dominate the game. More wins followed, but so did some lows. A TV viewer caught her replacing her ball incorrectly during a major in 2017, resulting in a four-shot penalty. Last year she took a break from golf to deal with mental and emotional issues and a break from social media followed earlier this year. But now Lexi is back in the winner’s circle, in the world’s top-four, wise beyond her 24 years and ready to challenge for the crown of the world’s best female golfer.
1 You’ve been through some tough times in recent years. How are things now? Honestly, I hope nobody has to go through what I did in 2017, with the curve balls that were thrown at me. I want to show people that you can get through anything life throws at you. You just have to keep on pushing through it with a positive attitude and just keep going and not give up because, if you do, life will get at you and you’ll go downhill. We’re all human. We have emotions. We feel sad and depressed, but you have to be strong enough to get through things. What my mum has gone through, seeing her attitude in life, has opened my eyes and made me realise it’s not that bad.
Golf is just a game. It’s hard to say and believe that sometimes, because I do take it very seriously and it’s been my life for a long time, but I have come to realise it is just a game and I have amazing family and friends no matter what.
I’m doing well. I’ve been working on myself a lot, going to therapists or just trying to figure myself out off the golf course, because I’m not just the golfer Lexi. I’m not perfect. I’m a human being. I’m going to have bad weeks and bad seasons. I’m not a robot. That’s what I want people to know, and not to expect so much out of me.
2 Do you think coming onto the Tour at such a young age was harder for you? Yeah, it’s a lot to deal with. I’ve been in this game since I was 12. I don’t want to say that I’ve been in the spotlight, but since I made it to the first US Women’s Open it’s been a lot to deal with. I knew what came with it, but it’s what I’ve always wanted. Unfortunately, there have been a lot of downs, but it makes the ups that much better. I’ve learned so much about myself, just the fight I have in me, the determination, the hard work and everything that goes into it. You learn so much about yourself and what kind of person you are in the tough situations and in the good situations.
3 What was it like when you made your debut aged 12? There was a lot of anxiety, but I was so excited. I was practising my signature on the drive up to the course. The chance to play at that level, when I was 12, that’s when I realised I wanted to play on the LPGA Tour. I couldn’t even reach the fairways; I was aiming for the walkway strips leading up to them. But I knew that’s where I wanted to be. I think I missed the cut by quite a few, but I was just like, “Okay, I have a lot more to do with my game, but I know if I put in the work and the time, I can do it”.
4 Do you see yourself as a role model to younger golfers? Coming into the game I just really wanted to grow the game in general and leave it in a better place than it was when I first started. I love seeing little kids out there supporting the game and following us. They don’t know how you’re playing, I could shoot six-over and they’re like, “Great playing!” and I’m like, “Oh my gosh, no”, but they’re so cute. They make the sport. If it wasn’t for the fans, the game wouldn’t be the same. It’s because of the fans that I made it through adversity a few years ago and I’m still chugging along, looking at the positives. I want little kids picking up a club at a younger age. It’s a great opportunity for these kids to learn a lot about themselves. It’s a great game.
5 Your game seems in great shape – have you worked on anything in particular? I’ve learned my strengths, my weaknesses, what I need to do and what I need to work on. That’s what you learn through failures and successes. I’ve been working on a few swing changes. It’s just being confident with it, aiming right and hitting my draw – playing how I used to play. When I was younger I used to just aim up the right and hit this big ol’ hook. I knew it was going to hook, so I just played it. I’d kind of gotten away from that and played a straight ball, but I could miss it left or right, so now I’m aiming right and knowing it’s going to draw, I’m definitely liking it a lot more.
“I’M NOT PERFECT. I’M NOT A ROBOT. I’M NOT JUST THE GOLFER LEXI. I WANT PEOPLE TO REALISE THAT.”