Lexi Thompson proved she could hang with some of the PGA Tour’s best players when she played at the Shriners Children’s Open earlier this fall and she’s doing it again at the Grant Thornton Invitational this week.
After a solid round of 60 with partner Rickie Fowler in the scramble format Friday to open the mixed event, Thompson and Fowler were struggling in Saturday’s alternate shot format.
The duo of popular Cobra-Puma-endorsed stars was two over in the second round through eight holes at Tiburon Golf Club, before they found a groove on the back nine. Thompson and Fowler posted birdies on five of their next seven holes to climb within four shots of Tony Finau and Nelly Korda’s lead.
Then, Thompson hit the shot of the tournament so far at the 16th.
From 158, the 11-time LPGA Tour winner’s 7-iron took one bounce and hopped straight into the cup for an ace.
“I was just hoping it was the right number and it ended up being a perfect number,” Thompson said after the round.
“Never left the flag,” added Fowler.
The crowd around the green roared as Thompson actually burst into laughter, then launched into a run of high-fives starting with her caddie, Fowler and playing partners Joel Dahmen and Lilia Vu.
Lexi Thompson’s heartbreaking PGA Tour finish still felt like a win
“Probably one of my highest [ace, in terms of excitement] because I’ve only had about four in competition with crowds, with a good amount of crowds, so there was a lot of people around that tee box,” Thompson said. “It was nice to high-five everybody and hear all the cheers. I can’t wait to watch the video of it later probably. Definitely a good feeling.
“I mean, hitting a golf shot or making a putt and just committing to it and seeing the shot at hand and really just pulling it off, it’s always a great feeling.”
More importantly, the ace catapulted Folwer and Thompson into the top five at 16 under, just two back of Korda and Finau in the 16-team field.
They parred the last two holes to finish at that number and post a respectable, but eventful second-round 68.