"It's Hard To Smile" - Lexi Thompson On US Open Collapse
The American played the final eight holes in five-over-par to miss out on the US Women's Open
The American played the final eight holes in five-over-par to miss out on the US Women's Open
"It's Hard To Smile" - Lexi Thompson On US Open Collapse
Lexi Thompson finished bogey-bogey to miss out on winning her second Major title at the US Women's Open.
The American was five clear with 10 holes to play but a double and three bogeys in her final eight holes meant she signed for a 75 and missed out on the playoff by a single stroke.
The fan-favourite was smiling throughout her difficult back nine but was hiding the pain of handing away her National Open.
A wayward drive on the par-5 17th and her wedge into the last at the Olympic Club, which found the bunker short, put her in danger and on both holes the putter was unable to save her.
So much was the pain that her agent had to pull the 26-year-old out of her post-tournament press conference with Lexi fighting back the tears.
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"Yeah, of course it's tough. I really didn't feel like I hit any bad golf shots. That's what this golf course can do to you, and that's what I've said all week," she said immediately after her round in her brief encounter with the media.
"Yeah, of course it's hard to smile, but, I mean, it was an amazing week.
"Yeah, I played not so good today with a few of the bogeys coming in on the back nine, but the fans were unbelievable, hearing the chants and just gives me a reason to play.
"It was just an unbelievable feeling to be out here and play this golf course.
"I've never been out here, so it was a blessing, and I'll take today and I'll learn from it and have a lot more weeks ahead, a lot more years. I have a tournament next week, so we'll take it from here."
Despite the back nine collapse, Lexi still signed autographs for her fans after the round:
Thompson later took to social media to thank the USGA and Olympic Club, where she said: "I tried my best and that’s all I can do."
Yuka Saso won her maiden Major title after defeating Japan's Nasa Hataoka in a playoff.
The 19-year-old from the Philippines became her country's first Major champion with her win at the Olympic Club.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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