All photos courtesy of USGA/Robert Beck
In one way, it’s hard to believe Lexi Thompson is already 25 years old. On the other hand, it might be hard to believe she is only 25.
It was in 2007 when Thompson became the then youngest player to qualify for an Open when she did so at the ripe old age of 12. She then she turned pro in 2010 at 15 and scored her first LPGA victory later that year when she won the Navistar LPGA Classic.
She does have a major title on her resume, winning the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championships (now known as the ANA Inspiration. She has 11 LPGA wins and with her power off the tee, she is always a threat on an Open course. This week only she has a new caddy – Tim Tucker – the man who carried the bag of U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau!
In her last two Open tournaments she was fifth at Shoal Creek in 2018, and tied for second last year at the Country Club of Charleston.
Following are excerpts from her virtual press conference Wednesday in Houston. ACES editor Dennis Miller compiled the notes.
THE MODERATOR: Please join me in welcoming Lexi Thompson to the interview area. Lexi is playing in her 14th straight U.S. Women’s Open. When I say that, what comes to mind.
LEXI THOMPSON: It’s pretty crazy to think about being 25 and playing my 14th. I’ve seen it all over my Instagram. I don’t think I would have thought about it until everybody has said it. It’s just an honor to be here at the U.S. Women’s Open Championship, and it brings back a lot of memories from being 12 and being at my first one.
THE MODERATOR: There’s 41 first-timers playing in their first Open this week. What advice would you give them? What about this week is different?
LEXI THOMPSON: Well, it usually plays very long and very tough, so it’s a mentally draining week, but that’s as major championships always are. But you just have to take it one shot at a time. There will be difficult shots out there and some bogeys, but you just have to continue with a positive attitude going into the next hole and know that you can birdie a few out there. My first U.S. Women’s Open I couldn’t reach a lot of the fairways, so it was a lot different than I’m sure a lot of these first-timers out here this week.
Q. How has your preparation changed with the two golf courses?
LEXI THOMPSON: It’s been a lot different. We’re not using to getting ready on two golf courses, so I played 18 full holes yesterday and Monday, as well, and then just nine holes today. Just making sure that I get both golf courses down, get my strategizing down and where I want to leave shots and where the best putt is, because there’s going to be a lot more mid to long irons coming into the greens.
So you really have to think about just where you want to be putting from, and if not, if you miss, where the best chip is.
Q. You have a new putter. How many times have you switched putters this year and why did you pick this one?
LEXI THOMPSON: I’ve switched a few this year, maybe two or three. I don’t know honestly. Just trying to find something that I am very comfortable with. I’ve never used a Spider before, and I just figured with me I think I’m better with a bit more of a mallet in reducing face rotation. So I changed a little bit of my setup, as well. So just trying to find something that I’m comfortable with and I just feel my strokes the best with that putter, I guess.
Q. Can you talk about — obviously, Tim has to be a quick study and you for him.
LEXI THOMPSON: Both ways, yeah.
Q. Is it easier to change putters or caddies?
LEXI THOMPSON: You know, I don’t know. Tim is great. He’s used to a whole different player. Definitely a lot more simple, I guess, out on the golf course. I don’t carry a yardage book so I usually just ask for the pin number and where I should land it, and that’s about it. I like to simplify things. But he’s great out there, great personality, and we just feed off each other and definitely a lot of laughs. Putter change is definitely difficult, but so is a caddie. I don’t really know.
Q. I know you share with Bryson the same agent, but just the process of pulling this together right before the U.S. Open?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, honestly — well, my manager definitely helped with this decision and just working it out. I don’t have a full-time caddie right now. My brother, Curtis, will caddie for me next week and he caddied for me at the Pelican LPGA event. It’ll be a task just to find a full-time caddie once this year is done, but it’s been kind of one of those years, you know. But my manager helped me getting Tim out here, and I guess he kind of jumped on the opportunity. I’m just very thankful to have him out there with me.
Q. How many shakes is he having you take? He’s not going to try to turn you into Bryson, is he?
LEXI THOMPSON: Oh, no. Gosh, I wouldn’t fit in my skirts. But he did ask me, do I have to give you your food and whatnot, and I’m like, no, I’m good. I’ll eat every two to three holes and do my own routine, so I’m good.
Q. Apparently, it’s only happened once in history where the same guy was on a bag for a women’s and men’s champion. It’s kind of an interesting wrinkle. I’m sure you weren’t thinking about that in any way, form, or fashion, but it is kind of cool having a guy with you who’s just come off an extraordinary performance with the men’s U.S. Open champion. Can you reflect on that a little?
LEXI THOMPSON: I haven’t really thought about it. I know people have said it. He’s just a great energy to have out there. Whether you’re playing good or bad I feel like he’s always going to be positive, and that’s what I need by my side out there, because major championships there will be some difficult shots and some bad ones, and it’s just important to stay in it. He just has a great energy out there, so I am looking forward to starting tomorrow with him and seeing how it goes.
Q. Along those lines, what are some of the elements that Tim brings, just from a technical sense of caddying that seem to jive well?
LEXI THOMPSON: Well, first off, we get along with each other very well, so that’s most importantly for me. Just getting me laughing. But of course having my numbers and everything.
But the first day that we went out, he has all the green density, the air density, and has that all factored in, and you know, it was unbelievable. Like the first two holes he said, It’s going to play this number. And I trusted it and I hit it so close, and it was a perfect number. But I’m like, Maybe I should just have another — like the actual pin number in my head just for my sanity. But it’s unbelievable like what he calculates. I’m like truly amazed. I’m like, just keep it to yourself; just tell me what you think the shot will play. But like I said, very talented and just happy to have him out there helping me.
Q. What are some of the nuances in general that you like or look for in a caddie when you’re out there?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, like I said, for me, I don’t carry yardage books, so I have a lot of trust in whoever is carrying my yardage book, doing all my numbers and everything. So there’s a lot of trust involved. But at the same time, I feel like the caddie-player relationship is the most important thing out here. Personality for me, just to keep me laughing in between shots, to have me talk about anything other than golf or the shot that I just hit is key. And just to keep me relaxed. You know, I’ve said it before, but I just want my best friend and somebody to be there for me at my side, and at the same time doing my numbers.
Q. How is your mindset now compared to had you been here in the first week of June when it was supposed to be played? How were you feeling then and how are you feeling now and is this ultimately a good thing for you?
LEXI THOMPSON: You know, honestly, I feel like conditions might have been a little different temperature-wise, but I think we’re all just very grateful that we’re able to play. And having the U.S. Women’s Open Championship this year with the crazy year that it’s been, we’re just happy to have any opportunity that we have to tee it up.