Lexi Thompson heads to PGA Tour event in Las Vegas happy with her game after solo fifth

Lexi Thompson, the talented golfer, is heading to the PGA Tour event in Las Vegas with newfound confidence after a strong showing at the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America. Her recent performance at the Old American Golf Club in Texas placed her in solo fifth, just six strokes behind the eventual winner, Hyo Joo Kim.

Despite narrowly missing out on her first LPGA title in four years, Thompson remains upbeat and ready to take on the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. Notably, she is set to become the seventh woman to compete in a PGA Tour event, a testament to her skill and determination.

Reflecting on her recent form, Thompson expressed, “Overall, very happy. I’ve been working extremely hard on my game and to see it pay off in these last few weeks, starting at Solheim Cup there, just to see the improvements, that’s all I’ve needed.”

It wasn’t long ago that questions surrounded Thompson’s place on the U.S. Solheim Cup team due to her underwhelming performance this season. She faced the challenge of earning a spot in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, as she missed the cut in six of seven LPGA starts over the summer and was ranked 114th on the CME points list before the Texas event. Only the top 60 and ties qualify.

Thompson, however, remains resolute in her determination to improve her game. She credits her resurgence to the lead-up to the Solheim Cup, a tournament that tends to bring out her best golf. She stated, “So to be able to play amazing golf there with my team and for my captain was a huge honor for me. Just trying to build off that and continue to work hard and see those improvements, that’s all I want to do, and continue to build on that.”

While Thompson chose not to divulge specific details of her improvements during press conferences, Golf Channel analyst and World Golf Hall of Famer Judy Rankin noted a significant change in her setup during the final round in Texas. Rankin explained, “She has actually lowered her right shoulder from her left shoulder,” which has positively impacted her ball-striking.

Since her remarkable performance at the Solheim Cup, Thompson has secured two top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour, marking her first of the season.

As Thompson prepares for her historic appearance in Las Vegas, the LPGA will simultaneously host the Buick LPGA Shanghai event in China, showcasing the global reach and competitiveness of women’s professional golf.