She made the legendary leap into Poppie’s Pond in 2014, and Lexi Thompson is determined to do so again sooner than later.
Mission Hills Country Club is home to the lone major championship crown for the Rolex Rankings No. 6. She also has made a run at adding her name to the ANA Inspiration record books with five top-10 finishes in her last six starts, including four top-five results. Over the last five years, Thompson owns the top cumulative score to par at the ANA Inspiration of -49, 13 strokes better than her closest competitor.
“It would mean the world to me [to win here again],” said Thompson, who is coming off her second runner-up finish of 2021 at last week’s Kia Classic. “This place has so much history and tradition. Jumping into Poppie’s Pond is my favorite memory of my career, jumping in there with my family. I hope to do it again sometime and it is always my goal coming into this event.
“Of course I want to win but everyone else does [too]. I just have to focus on my game and see where it takes me.”
To prepare for golf’s first major of 2021, Thompson put in the work during the two weeks off prior to the Kia Classic, ranging from “my mental game” to “a lot of short game.” It even included a couple lessons with noted golf instructor Martin Hall.
“I put in a lot of work on chipping and putting, hours a day, and just really making sure my ball-striking is more consistent,” Thompson said. “That is what I’ve been working on the most. Also worked [some] lessons with Martin Hall, so that definitely helped out there. Just trying to improve on little things. I started with him a few months ago.”
Thompson will get to work at the 2021 ANA Inspiration on Thursday at 7:54 a.m. PT with two-time ANA Inspiration champions So Yeon Ryu and Brittany Lincicome rounding out the grouping off the 10th tee.
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