Lexi Thompson faced a challenging round but maintained her composure throughout the Shriners Children’s Open, even as the play was suspended at the end of the day. Beau Hossler took the lead with an outstanding 9-under 62, matching his best-ever performance on the PGA Tour, despite a hiccup on the 17th where he found the water at TPC Summerlin.
Thompson was a highlight of the FedEx Cup fall event, becoming the seventh woman to compete in a PGA Tour event after a five-year hiatus. She was 1-over par through 16 holes and opted to mark her ball for a 20-foot par putt on the 17th, intending to finish her first round on Friday at 10:45 a.m. ET. Although making the cut was still within reach, maintaining a par score required significant effort.
Describing her performance, Thompson remarked, “I played decent. I had one bad hole and a few iffy shots. But it’s golf; it was kind of expected.”
Thompson managed to secure birdies on two of the par 5s and also clinched a bonus birdie with a 25-foot putt on the second hole, which helped her move into the red numbers. However, her birdie opportunities from within 20 feet were limited, with only five such chances within her first 17 holes.
The front nine seemed to pose a challenge as she encountered a double bogey on the seventh hole and had another close call on the eighth. Nonetheless, she executed a stellar 3-wood shot on the ninth, setting her up for a two-putt birdie from 30 feet.
“I knew I could get a birdie as long as I hit that fairway,” Thompson explained. “I knew I could get a 3-wood up close to the front of the green and make a birdie there. I hit a good drive and stayed committed to that 3-wood. I tried for an eagle but settled for a birdie.”
At the suspension of play due to darkness, Thompson found herself in a tie for 76th place.
Thompson’s afternoon tee time worked in her favor, as she encountered challenging weather conditions at the outset, with strong winds and chilly temperatures. Conditions improved later in the day, making TPC Summerlin a bit more manageable.
In the morning, J.T. Poston put on an impressive performance with a 63 despite the tougher conditions. Beau Hossler, who previously recorded a 62 at the 3M Open earlier this year, showcased his prowess in the afternoon, missing only two greens and capitalizing on available opportunities.
Hossler brushed off his one mistake on the 17th hole, where he found the hazard due to the pin placement. He recovered with an uncomplicated up-and-down for a bogey and wrapped up his round with a short birdie putt on the 18th, securing his 62.
Cameron Champ also displayed a strong performance in the afternoon with a 63, while Davis Thompson and Lanto Griffin posted 64s. In total, ten players managed scores of 66 or better on a course renowned for its low-scoring potential.
For Lexi Thompson, the challenge continues in the morning as she lines up her putt on the 17th green, plays the 18th hole, and then embarks on her second round. Over the past 70 years, Michelle Wie came closest to making the cut among women participating in PGA Tour events, missing it by just one stroke at the Sony Open in 2004 when she was a 14-year-old high school freshman.
Thompson’s presence at the tournament was marked by a white golf bag adorned with messages from children at the Shriners Children’s Hospital. The sponsor exemption came together in the last two weeks, and Thompson expressed her hope to inspire children during her participation, highlighting the exceptional work accomplished by the Shriners for children. “Shriners does amazing things for these kids, so I’m delighted to be here, supporting them in any way I can,” she expressed.
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