GILBERT, Ariz. — Eleven-time LPGA Tour winner Lexi Thompson is lurking with 18 holes to play at the Ford Championship presented by KCC, carding an impressive 3-under 69 in extremely windy conditions on Saturday at Seville Golf and Country Club to sit two back of the 54-hole lead at 13-under.
Thompson started the round in a tie for 10th at 10-under after carding a 7-under 65 on day two, and after parring her first three holes of the day, moved to 11-under with a birdie on the par-3 4th hole. She made four more pars on holes five through eight, dropping just her third shot of the week on the par-4 9th hole to make the turn in even par.
After parring 10, the major champion made another birdie on the par-4 11th hole, now sitting at 11-under overall with seven holes to play. She parred her next three before picking up another birdie on the par-4 15th hole, closing out her round with two pars and a birdie on 18 to post at 13-under for the tournament and sit in a tie for sixth with nine other players.
“Felt good with overall the windy conditions. With my score, I'll definitely take it,” said Thompson, whose 69 is her second-lowest round of the 2024 season. “Some of the holes out there, you just have to take your par and run. There were some gettable holes that you really need to birdie and take advantage of those. I tried not to back off so many shots, but I backed off so many shots, and I felt bad, but it was tough conditions. But the golf course is in great shape, so hopefully have some better weather tomorrow.”
Thompson is continuing her search for her 12th career victory in her 13th season on the LPGA Tour and will have another shot at it tomorrow in Gilbert, Ariz., her best chance at a win so far this year. She finished in a tie for 16th in her 2024 debut at the LPGA Drive On Championship and then missed the cut in her second start of the year last week at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship. So, she is more than enjoying being in the mix this week with one round left at the Ford Championship, even more so considering it’s the first time Thompson has been within five of the lead entering the final round since last year’s Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America.
But the veteran knows better than to let visions of trophies dance in her head at this point in the game and is instead focusing on her process as a difficult final round looms large, hoping that the chips will finally fall in her favor come Sunday afternoon in the Arizona desert.
“I don't really know what the weather is dealing tomorrow, but hoping for the best,” said Thompson. “Hopefully, it goes through somewhat in the early morning, and we get out in some decent weather. I know it's going to be a little bit cooler. But just do my best. Go out there and focus on one shot at a time, and take the last three days of positive shots, and play into the final round, and see where that goes. That's all I can do.”
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