Please excuse Lexi Thompson’s slow start at the 2017 Women’s PGA Championship.
Please give her a pass for her bogey-bogey start at Olympia Fields.
She’s got a lot on her mind and golf right now is tough considering.
This time last week she was back at home in South Florida holding her mother’s hand. Judy Thompson was preparing for radiation therapy to treat uterine cancer.
“It’s been devastating news to the whole Thompson family,” Lexi’s agent told everyone earlier this week.
Lexi caused a big fuss when she asked to be excused from pre-tournament interviews. That fuss went away quickly when Judy Thompson’s condition was made public.
Lexi simply wanted some time to herself to prepare for the season’s second major. She came in later than normal to Olympia Fields and needed more time to catch up.
Lexi overcame that bogey-bogey start on Thursday and came up with three birdies over the next 16 holes and turned in a one-under par 70.
Her round kept her in the hunt. She tied world’s No. 3 Lydia Ko and was just a shot behind world’s No. 1 So Yeon Ryu and was a heckuva lot better than No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn, who had all sorts of problems and finished with 77.
Thompson came into Olympia Fields as the favorite on the longer golf course. Thursday she only birdied one of the three par fives and par fives are her bread-and-butter on this tour.
She should be after her second major title of the season. A four-shot penalty robbed her at the ANA Inspiration but she’s bounced back since then and got right to the business at hand on Thursday.
“Lexi’s a tough kid, she’ll be alright,” said a long-time family friend.
Thompson was only four shots back of leader Chella Choi, who shot 66. Amy Yang had a chance to join her but slow play left a number of players on the course when dangerous weather put and end to day one’s play.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson made a pretty good first-day statement with a 68. “It was a tough day out there,” said the Canadian star. “Hopefully I’ll have a chance on Sunday.”
Michelle Wie was in there at three-under with Henderson. “I’m proud of myself, I’m excited,” said Wie, “It’s a long way ’til Sunday, but I’m excited.”
Thompson will be back for her Friday morning tee time knowing her mom’s got a fight on her hands. Judy hopes to follow her daughter at the U.S. Open.
Lexi spoke for the first time about her mother following her first round play:
“My mom has always been, no matter what she’s going through, the biggest fighter,” Lexi said. “She’s always been a role model of mine. I always aspire to be half the woman that she is.”
