THE WOODLANDS, Texas – From a scheduling standpoint, Lexi Thompson has eased into the year’s first major, teeing it up only twice so far in 2023 – once on the LPGA and once in Saudi Arabia.
But all that time off didn’t exactly lead to a rested approach, at least physically. Turns out Thompson, 28, grinded so hard back home in south Florida that she arrived at the Chevron Championship with a taped-up right wrist. The pain started about a week ago.
“I’ve just been hitting so many golf balls at home,” said Thompson, when asked about the black tape that ran up past her elbow, “and I’ve kind of — I’m not going to say injured, but it’s hurting a little bit. But I’ve gotten work done the last few days and getting it taped up.
“But yeah, I think I just overworked it. It’s nothing crazy severe, but it’s there. But we’ll see.”
Lexi Thompson of the United States hits her approach shot on the first fairway during a practice round prior to The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods on April 19, 2023 in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Thompson began the week in Texas at the Champions Dinner, where she enjoyed some hearty laughs at the table with former Solheim Cup captains Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst. For all the joy and heartache she experienced at Mission Hills Country Club, it was her favorite stop on tour.
This week marks a big transition for the American star.
“It’s definitely a major feel for this golf course,” said Thompson of the Nicklaus Course at The Club at Carleton Woods. “It’s playing long, and it’ll get windy. It’s Texas, so it’ll get windy out there and play difficult … that’s how a major should be.”
At home, Thompson typically spends two hours a day on her putting, and in the weeks leading up to this event, she was especially focused on ballstriking.
Chevron: Photos
Stacy Lewis grew up in The Woodlands and said great ballstriking will be a premium this week given that the greens are firm and precision is required to certain hole locations.
“Then I think you could look to anyone that grew up playing on Bermudagrass,” said Lewis, “and the chipping and the surrounds. I think that’s going to be a big factor this week of just knowing how to play those shots around the greens.”
As for the wrist, Thompson said the pain is the worst when she hinges on the way back and releases on the way through.
“Just kind of the pressure of putting my thumb on top of…
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