SPRINGFIELD, New Jersey – Lexi Thompson came alive late on Friday at the KPMG Women’s PGA, pouring in four birdies over her last five holes to vault inside the cutline at Baltusrol’s Lower Course.
“I’m like, I just need to fire at pins,” said Thompson. “Trust me, I was trying to do it the whole time. Kind of just all clicked coming in. Made some really good putts and really stuck to my game plan coming in.”
Thompson, 28, curled in a 25-footer for birdie on the eighth hole (her 17th) to put an exclamation point on a day that looked headed for the gutter as she was 8 over for the championship through 31 holes.
Thompson, an 11-time winner on the LPGA who last triumphed in 2019, hit only five fairways and 10 greens in her first 18 holes and took 32 putts. She opened with a 76 playing alongside the LPGA’s newest sensation, Rose Zhang, and two-time major winner Minjee Lee.
Back-to-back birdies!
Lexi fighting to make the cut. #KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/rzcDTtkVfN
— KPMG Women's PGA Championship (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 23, 2023
Friday’s birdie flurry, however, gave Thompson a 1-under 70 in the second round, moving her to 4 over for the tournament, nine shots back of leader Leona Maguire.
Currently No. 9 in the world, Thompson opened the season with a share of third at the Saudi Ladies International. The KPMG is only her fifth LPGA start of the season. She missed the cut in three of those, including last week’s Meijer LPGA Classic.
“Like I said, it’s been a struggle this whole kind of year except for my first event of the year,” said Thompson.
“But I’ve been working probably harder than ever in my whole life on the golf course and when I’m home practicing. Just to be able to come through towards the end and make those birdies, it’s nice to see hard work pay off, even though I’m still at 4 over. I’m taking it. I’m taking the little, small win right now and building it.”
