The ladies of the LPGA Tour are getting a little racy this week.
No, has nothing to do with those new what-you-can-and-can’t-wear guidelines.
It has everything to do with one of the neatest golf settings in America.
The Brickyard Crossing is that setting, this week’s venue for the LPGA stop — the Indy Women In Tech Championship.
The Brickyard Crossing is built around and inside the famous Indianapolis Speedway, a course unlike any other.
America’s Golf Sweetheart had her foot on the accelerator Thursday. Lexi Thompson went out early and made birdies often — 11 of them to be exact and she turned in a spiffy nine-under par 63 — a very high octane first round.
“I let myself get out of my own way,” was how Lexi summed up her day’s work around the speedway layout. “It was one of those days. Some times you’re just in that zone.”
The fast start was important for Thompson. This tournament was trimmed to 54-holes with a Saturday finish so the players can head for the Evian Championship in France. It is the final major of the season and the general consensus was that players wanted to get over there early for better preparation.
As good as that 63 was for Thompson, it only earned her a one-shot lead.
Birdies were a numerous as the fans at the Indy 500.
American newcomer Kris Tamulis had her best round ever at an LPGA event. She found herself tied for second with Sandra Gal after putting up an eight-under par 64.
It’s hard to imagine that a player who was ranked No. 1 for 85 weeks hasn’t been heard from much this season but finally, Lydia Ko let everyone know that her game is coming around. Ko hasn’t won a tournament since she split from swing coach David Ledbetter in 2016 but she 65 and found herself just two off Thompson’s lead.
Should be an interesting final 36 holes with the number of quality players in the field.
One player who’s not in Indy is Michelle Wie. Wie is still recovering from appendectomy surgery and was frustrated that she will miss the season’s final major next week.
There’s still work to be done in Indy for the next two days.
The course is a great design and it’s a layout anyone can play, it’s on the list of the best 100 public courses in America.
But this week, it’s pros only.
There are birdies to be made and Lexi Thompson is hoping that she can lap the field.
