At the Kingsmill Championship, there were no angry viewers writing in to ruin things for Lexi Thompson. The 22-year-old led by three stroke going into the final round at Kingsmill Resort’s River Course in Williamsburg, and after a bogey-free 65 on Sunday, she won the title by a comfortable five strokes over In Gee Chun.
In winning her eighth career LPGA title, this victory was especially sweet in that it comes after Thompson lost the ANA Championship due to a highly controversial ruling in early April.
ICYMI: @Lexi Thompson’s winner’s interview with @GolfChannel’s @JerryFoltzGC @KingsmillLPGA pic.twitter.com/ROh8EtnHtQ
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 22, 2017
After the heart-breaking loss at Mission Hills, Thompson came back to tournament play for the first time at the Volunteers of America Shootout in Texas. In an emotional press conference, the fifth-ranked player in the world was asked about something a lot of people had on their minds: She’d been playing some impressive golf at the ANA. Would it be difficult to continue her strong play after something so traumatic had happened?
WATCH LEXI SKYDIVE ON TO THE COURSE FOR HER KINGSMILL PRO-AM TEE TIME BELOW
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUNNuPJAvVO/
Thompson had said, “I don’t think it will be a challenge because two days after it all happened I was out at 7:15 a.m. teeing off at Trump International with my brothers. I was determined to get back out and practice my game harder than ever and keep it in the sport that it is, and I’ve been doing just that.”
She finished that tournament tied for 17th. But her dominant performance at Kingsmill proved that the unfortunate ruling was just that: An unfortunate ruling. Any lingering demons Thompson might have been coping with were dispelled with the definitive, four-round 20-under 268 total, which included just two bogeys over the four days and set a new tournament record, breaking the mark previously held by Annika Sorenstam.
With this birdie putt on 14, @Lexi Thompson’s lead goes back to 4 @KingsmillLPGA.
Tune in now @GolfChannel pic.twitter.com/CzfSnfl5RO
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 21, 2017
“I was so determined just to keep on working on my game [after the ANA],” Thompson said, “because I knew that was the best golf I have played. I just couldn’t let it get to me. I had to continue to practice and work hard. To have the support from my family and friends and all the fans, I mean, it was amazing. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
Thompson is the third American to win on the LPGA this year.
“I’m so over [the ruling],” said Thompson. “It’s in the past. It’s unfortunate what happened, but it’s time to move on. This puts a lid on it.”
