Tour Lexi Thompson - WITB - 2023 Shriners Children's Open

[bobfoster]

First, I'm totally pleased that she's playing. I suppose (considering the other thread) there are mixed opinions about this, but I'm firmly on the side of "yeah Lexi!". Remote chance she'll even make the cut, but she seems to be going into it with the right attitude. She's just going to have fun. And a lot of fans will have fun watching her. Its all good.

 

Second, I'm almost shocked at those clubs. I mean, she hasn't been that great lately, but she still is a solid member of the LPGAT, has been a pro for over a decade now, and has considerable name recognition. Which is to say that she'd have her choice of any clubs she wanted from her sponsor. And she goes everywhere from slightly to seriously old school by choice.

 

Don't know why, but I kinda dig that. It's curiously charming. Then again, so is she.

[Trippels]

Had the aerojet woods earlier in the year, seems to have a tendency to fall back on ol' reliable

 

 

[OnTheBag]

20 minutes ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

Maybe in a better position than those who tried before her, but don't you think she's still at a (noticeable?) disadvantage?  What you state above is one of the reasons she hits it as far as she does.  But she's still giving up some speed vs her competitors this week.

 

I guess maybe she's not that far off from some of the shorter hitters on tour (I guess you would know better than most)?  They don't dominate but can be competitive every now and then.  I do remember Lexi hit some shots out of the rough at Olympic and I was thinking I'm not sure there's anyone else this week that can do that.

 

Anyways, we'll all see.  Two rounds anything can happen (not sure how this course sets up as well).  Hopefully, she's at least reasonably competitive vs. the cut.

All great points.  You are correct that she and Bianca Pagdanganan are the only ones that generate anything close to PGA level speed and yet Lexi will be at a distance disadvantage this week.  After yesterday's practice round, Tom Kim said she was 15-20 yards behind him but hit better approach shots on most holes with longer clubs.  

 

As she said, her goal for the week is to play good golf.  The cut will be what it is and she can't control that.  But like any of us playing a course that is beyond our natural ability, we just want to hit more good shots than bad.

 

Sorry for hijacking the thread.  Like most LPGA players, they bag the sticks that work, regardless of the year model or newest trend.  Lexi is the epitome of that.

[OnTheBag]

Sorry.  Double post.

Edited October 11, 2023 by OnTheBag

[KimmerBH]

I hope for her sake she doesn't embarrass herself cause all eyes will be on her. 

[bazzle18]

Any thoughts why the PX 5.0 iron shafts?

[trentyoung33]

3 hours ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

Maybe in a better position than those who tried before her, but don't you think she's still at a (noticeable?) disadvantage?  What you state above is one of the reasons she hits it as far as she does.  But she's still giving up some speed vs her competitors this week.

 

I guess maybe she's not that far off from some of the shorter hitters on tour (I guess you would know better than most)?  They don't dominate but can be competitive every now and then.  I do remember Lexi hit some shots out of the rough at Olympic and I was thinking I'm not sure there's anyone else this week that can do that.

 

Anyways, we'll all see.  Two rounds anything can happen (not sure how this course sets up as well).  Hopefully, she's at least reasonably competitive vs. the cut.

A podcast that was talking about her LPGA driving distance and said she would be 2nd to last on PGA tour in driving distance, so she definitely will be at a disadvantage in that aspect.

[trentyoung33]

3 hours ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

Maybe in a better position than those who tried before her, but don't you think she's still at a (noticeable?) disadvantage?  What you state above is one of the reasons she hits it as far as she does.  But she's still giving up some speed vs her competitors this week.

 

I guess maybe she's not that far off from some of the shorter hitters on tour (I guess you would know better than most)?  They don't dominate but can be competitive every now and then.  I do remember Lexi hit some shots out of the rough at Olympic and I was thinking I'm not sure there's anyone else this week that can do that.

 

Anyways, we'll all see.  Two rounds anything can happen (not sure how this course sets up as well).  Hopefully, she's at least reasonably competitive vs. the cut.

A podcast that was talking about her LPGA driving distance and said she would be 2nd to last on PGA tour in driving distance, so she definitely will be at a disadvantage in that aspect.

[Titleist_PT23]

Ball speeds so far are 157-159 mph.  SS was clocked twice, 106 and 109.

[slytown]

I'm always confused by bags that have multiple stiffness in them. Is that feel thing or a dispersion thing do you think?

[ac6]

22 hours ago, trentyoung33 said:

A podcast that was talking about her LPGA driving distance and said she would be 2nd to last on PGA tour in driving distance, so she definitely will be at a disadvantage in that aspect.

 

Thus far she is handily smoking Mr. Last Place Brian Stuard in driving distance. It's always incredible to me how good he has to be to stay on tour with CHS barely breaking triple digits

[OnTheBag]

On 10/11/2023 at 7:50 PM, bazzle18 said:

Any thoughts why the PX 5.0 iron shafts?

 

2 hours ago, slytown said:

I'm always confused by bags that have multiple stiffness in them. Is that feel thing or a dispersion thing do you think?

Not all stiffs are the same and not all regulars are the same.  As for the PX 5.0, she's played that same iron setup for a dozen years (since she was 16) and she's won 11 LPGA events with it.  It works so why change.

[trentyoung33]

1 hour ago, ac6 said:

 

Thus far she is handily smoking Mr. Last Place Brian Stuard in driving distance. It's always incredible to me how good he has to be to stay on tour with CHS barely breaking triple digits

She definitely put some balls out there. Either third or fourth hole I think her drive was 316 or something like that.

[purefish152]

Good luck, Lexi!

[erock9174]

First thing I noticed when I saw her grips. Looks slick like every used set at golf galaxy. 

[mlwenzlick]

Yeah about those “she doesn’t belong there” comments… 🙃

[J_Tizzle]

Sure she was a bit behind on the driving distance and clubhead speeds, but I think I saw a graphic that her avg driver distance was over 300, so not too shabby playing a 7,200 yard course.  She reached several of the par 5s in 2 and saw her drive a par 4 yesterday.  While I saw some drives in excess of 360 on some of those guys, but 300 hitting like 70% of the fairways will play for sure.

 

Well done Lexi.

 

Edit - here are her stats for this week

 

Edited October 14, 2023 by J_Tizzle

[phizzy30]

On 10/10/2023 at 4:46 PM, Titleist_PT23 said:

Hard to know just based on tv (wind, temperature, elevation changes, etc), but I think she's been around 160 mph ball speed quite often.  She's averaged 270+ 9 out of the last 10 seasons.  Probably carrying it 250-260 comfortably.

She's usually in the mid to high 150's and that seems like a stock swing for her.  What really catches my eye is that she plays the Ventus Black 6x in driver and has PX 5.0 in her irons which is pretty much R flex.  HOWEVER, what I've noticed is that she tends to go after it with driver and needs something really stiff and stable whereas her tempo/transition is a lot smoother with her irons hence the significant drop in flex.