The strength of Lexi Thompson’s game is distance off the tee and par five prowess.
The par fives at Lake Merced proved costly to Thompson on Sunday at the Mediheal LPGA Championship.
A bogey on the par five ninth then her failure to make birdie at the par five 18th cost Thompson a playoff spot.
Seven-under par tied after 72 holes and it was Bronte Law, Jeongeun Lee6 and overnight leader Sei Young Kim heading back to the 18th tee.
Law got there with a dazzling final round of 65, easily the day’s lowest score. Lee’s 67 got her in the overtime while Kim had to fight her way back from a double-bogey, bogey start to get a share of the lead with a closing 75.
Kim saved the day for herself with a birdie on the first playoff hole and captured her eighth LPGA title at the age of 25.
As for Thompson, she will look back at her front nine 38, her failure to birdie the last hole and know that she let another tournament slip through her hands.
