It's been over a year, but Lexi Thompson is back in the winner's circle once again.
The 20-year-old entered the final round four shots back, but knew she had the ability to make up those shots if she stuck to an aggressive game plan.
"Fire at pins, try to make birdies. Four is not a lot in golf," Thompson said prior to the round. "I'm just going to focus on doing my routine. I can only control what I do."
That's exactly what Thompson did, birding the first hole to gain some confidence. She proceeded to sandwich a bogey with four birdies in five holes and shot a front side 32 to eliminate the overnight gap. In all, she would drain eight birdies and two bogeys for a final round 65 and a one shot win at the Meijer LPGA Classic.
Thompson got some help. After shooting a third round 64, Lizette Salas entered the final round with a three shot lead. In easy conditions and with her competitors making birdies all over the course, Salas was unable to record a birdie until the eighth hole. She shot an even par opening nine 36, and saw her advantage on the field taken away. At the end of the day, Salas, looking for her second victory on the LPGA Tour, would only manage a one under par round of 70 to finish one shot back of Thompson.
For Thompson, it was exactly what the doctor ordered. She has been struggling with a bone bruise in her wrist for most of the season after boxing with a writer during a photo shoot. Thompson has had the wrist wrapped and has been icing it, but is hoping for a break in the schedule so she can rest her wrist.
“There is no structural damage,” said Bobby Kreusler, Thompson's agent. “It’s a deep bone bruise, and it hurts quite a bit. It’s not a huge deal, just something that won’t fully heal until she gets some time off.”
This is Thompson's first victory since winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship last year. At 19, the victory made her the second youngest major champion in history, and she looked to be on her way to becoming the face of the LPGA Tour. Thompson has managed several top finishes since her victory, but has been unable to win, allowing players such at 18-year-old Lydia Ko to leapfrog her in the Rolex Rankings.
The victory will move Thompson into eighth place in the Race For The CME Globe standings, and sixth on the Rolex Rankings. It makes her a lock to make the Solheim Cup, though there was very little chance of her missing the team to begin with. Most importantly, it gives Thompson a bunch of confidence and momentum heading into the final two majors of the season. Thompson hasn't had much luck at the Women's British Open, where she has failed to record a top-10 in three starts, but she has back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Evian Masters.
Tied with Salas in second place is Gerina Piller. Piller, still seeking her first LPGA victory, fired a final round 64 to put pressure on Thompson. It's Piller's third top-10 of the season. She currently sits eighth on the Solheim Cup standings. Salas currently sits 10th. Both players played in their first Solheim Cup back in 2013.
Finishing tied for fourth and three shots back was So Yeon Ryu. It is Ryu's sixth top-10 of the season, but she is still seeking her fourth LPGA victory. She tied with American Kris Tamulis. Rolex Number One Inbee Park began the day inside the top-10, but a final round 76 sent her sailing down the leaderboard. She finished tied for 44th.
Next week is the fourth major of the year, the Ricoh Women's British Open, at Turnberry.