LOOKING FOR IMPROVEMENT
Lexi Thompson hasn’t particularly shined in her first four appearances at the RICOH Women’s British Open but hopes to turn things around this week at Woburn. Thompson, who is coming off a win as a member of Team USA at the UL International Crown, said that the post-event festivities were a whirlwind.
“Last week was an amazing week. Any time I can represent my country, it’s always the highest honor,” said Thompson. “But to be able to win with my team, it was an amazing feeling and I didn’t even have to finish my last match, which is always nice. It’s been a crazy last few days of just the media that Sunday and then rushing to the airport to get to our delayed flights to get here. We were very excited to come here this week and we definitely a lot of confidence coming off last week winning.”
Thompson hasn’t finished outside the top-25 in majors this season and finished fifth at the ANA Inspiration. Her year consists of eight top-10 finishes including her seventh career victory in Thailand back in February.
“I’ve just been trying to simplify things, not being technical with my golf swing,” said Thompson. “Once I start thinking about a lot of things in my golf swing, it just gets out of control. Just been trying to focus on doing my routine and breathing exercises before I hit a shot and being relaxed out there. I think that’s when I play my best golf.”
NO NEW FRIENDS
Woburn member Charley Hull has her likeness posted all over the grounds of the championship and has been deemed the unofficial host this week. As expected, Hull imagines family members and a few friends will come out and watch. But the 20-year-old said she hopes not many of her non-golf friends show up.
“Well, I actually didn’t want any of my friends really to come. I don’t know why, I just feel like my friends are my friends outside of golf,” said Hull. “I just don’t want them asking, so why did you hit that there or what does that mean or what’s this. I may let one friend come, which is my best mate James and he’s a golfer. So he keeps me calm and relaxed and stuff.”
DEMANDS OF A MAJOR WINNER
When Brittany Lang steps onto the first tee at Woburn Golf Club on Thursday she will be introduced at a major for the first time as a major champion. Lang, 30, won the U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle Golf Club earlier this month and understands the demands of being a major champion are much higher now.
“It’s definitely tiring,” Lang said in her pre-tournament press conference. “Lot more demands and everybody is congratulating you, which is great. But it’s a new world.”
Lang was the first over-30 year old winner on the LPGA this year, a fact that astonishes even her.
“That just sounds crazy to me,” Lang said. “We do have so many great players that are 30 and older. We have a ton of them. But the talent keeps getting younger and younger, and better and better, which is great for our tour.”
Lang is looking to become a back-to-back major winner and the first on the LPGA since Lydia Ko won the 2015 Evian Championship and the 2016 ANA Inspiration.
LET’S STICK WITH IT
Lexi Thompson picked out another new putter Tuesday of last week at the UL International Crown and the 21-year-old said that she will be committed to sticking to her new short stick.
“I’m using Bettinardi’s putter now and I feel very comfortable with it,” said Thompson. “I feel like I’m stroking it pretty well. I’m going to stick with that and practice with that the next two weeks when I’m home and hopefully it will go well with me this week.”
She had spurts of success on the greens last week in the team match play event but said it’s the area of her game she’s consistently working on. She currently ranks 51st in putts per GIR and 148th in putting average.
“I feel like with golf every area of your game you can get better at,” said Thompson. “For me, I feel like putting is definitely an area that I can get better at. It’s honestly the only part of my game I really practice very hard on.”
“But it’s all confidence. It all about getting the lines on the greens, getting breaks to the putts and being confident over it,” said Thompson. “I feel like I feel a lot more comfortable with this putter and a lot more confident. It’s all a matter of practice and getting comfortable.”
QUOTABLES
“It’s all placement golf. I feel like I haven’t quite got that down yet. And the firmer ground, me taking big divots, it’s a different change for me, so I always tinker with my swing to get used to the ground firmness.” -Lexi Thompson on the biggest challenge for her the Women’s British Open
“But this one is quite American, you would play this, quite similar to this on the LPGA Tour, I would say. They that would ask me, I would say the greens are quite tricky to read because they are quite tricky to read.” -Charley Hull on what she has told other players when they’ve asked her for advice on Woburn
“I would say I’m fairly calm. If something really gets to me, it takes a lot to get me mad and upset, if it’s something I’m really passionate about. There’s not a whole lot that’s really going to get me too mad. I’m pretty calm, easy going, just want to have fun, I would say.” -Brittany Lang on her overall demeanor
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