Q. We are joined by Lexi Thompson after a 5-under par 65 in the third round of the Pelican Women's Championship. Lexi, hot start and a nice finish for you today to hold a share of the 54 hole lead. The galleries seemed pretty big today. How nice was it to have that kind of support on day three, and I would assume again tomorrow?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it's amazing. We had big crowds out here the last two days, especially yesterday there were some big crowds. The rain, we lost a few people with the rain on the first few holes, but they came back out and supported us.
That's what we want to see. The game of golf is growing dramatically, especially on the women's side. Now that things are getting back to normal and having fans out, that's the best feeling ever.
Q. Mom and dad obviously out as well.
LEXI THOMPSON: Uh-huh.
Q. As we talked about yesterday that it's been a while since mom has been out at an event. What was the last event she was at? Do you remember?
LEXI THOMPSON: Gosh, probably CME a few years ago. I don't even think she went to the last CME. Yeah, it's just great to have her out here. She doesn't come out too much because she still works.
It's great to have them both out here, grab dinner with them, and just to see their support on the sidelines, it's the best to have that love and support.
Q. What's the putting setup in your house, inside your house? What do you do?
LEXI THOMPSON: It's the Perfect Practice Putting Mat. So, yeah, got the bigger hole and the small one with the lines on it.
Q. Is it in the garage or the living room?
LEXI THOMPSON: Oh, it's right in my living room. Just stares at me. So I'm like, I guess I should putt.
Q. While you're watching TV or...
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I have the TV on, but it's kind of in a different room so I can't see it.
Oh, yeah, I love it. I can put some music on and just work on my stroke and it's good. I love it.
Q. What can you tell me about this banner here?
LEXI THOMPSON: So these are a few friends of my caddie, Will's, and they're big supporters. They're awesome. They came out and supported me throughout the weekend, so I'm happy to have them out here. Looper is Will's nickname. I didn't get nickname yet, so waiting for it.
Yeah, they came out to support me. It's just, like I said, a great feeling to have the fans behind me.
Q. How did you two get connected?
LEXI THOMPSON: Me and Will?
Q. Yeah.
LEXI THOMPSON: Well, he's been out here caddying the last year or so, and actually caddied for my brother a little bit as well.
Q. Okay.
LEXI THOMPSON: So I've known him throughout the years.
Q. Which one, Curtis?
LEXI THOMPSON: Curtis, uh-huh.
Q. Obviously you've been such a staple to the game for the Americans for almost a decade now.
LEXI THOMPSON: Crazy.
Q. What's it like to see what Nelly has been able to do? And I think she said it'll be the first time you guys competed together in a final pairing.
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it's great to see. Obviously us Americans, we're just trying to do the best that we can. We come out here and represent our country every time we tee it up. No matter if it's a team event or individual event, we were just out here doing our best. That's all we can do, put in our hard work and everything.
And it's amazing what she's accomplished, and everybody knows how good the Korda sisters are as players and athletes. The whole family is.
It'll be a good final day. Looking forward to it. Hopefully we just make a lot of birdies out there.
Q. I feel like every year there is something about playing a Florida event -- obviously you talked about it with the friends and family and being able to drive -- but every year you seem to take it to another level at an event in Florida. This week seems to be another case. What is it, outside of the friends and family and the bermuda grass, that you just find peace in your mind?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I think that has a lot to do with it, having the family support here, being able to drive. It's just an easy travel week. It's a lot less stressful.
I love this golf course. It's a great golf course. I get to hit a good amount of drivers and 3-woods out there. Same thing with CME.
So it's just a good atmosphere. I think this tournament is run so well and the hospitality and the fans are truly behind this event and the sponsors, so I think we're just grateful to have another tournament in the States, let alone Florida.
Q. You get that bogey there on 15, but then it's like 16 you immediately turn a corner; it's a new hole.
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah.
Q. What is it that you can allow yourself to switch mentalities like that so quickly and get out there and you're back into the lead again?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, that's honestly what I've been working on the hardest, is the mental part of the game. Obviously been working on my swing and everything trying to get that better. But the mental side of it, you know, I hit a good shot on the par-3 and didn't hit the best of first putts, but hit a good second putt; just lipped out.
I was like, All right. I hit good tee shot on the next one. I'm like, All right, let's just get it back and stick it close and make birdie on this hole. I said that to Will, and sure enough, golf is such a mental game. You just have to stay in the moment, stay positive.
Q. How huge is it to have Will with you and being able to go back and forth talking about the holes, and then also just having that support right there on the course for you maybe after a bad hole or a bad shot?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it's amazing. The caddie/player relationship is I think the biggest part of the game. Having somebody by my side -- I mean, I don't do any of my numbers, so to have somebody that I trust fully with my numbers and have the best friend relationship and can joke around and have somebody by my side who keeps me loose, we a good time out there.
He has a great personality that matches up with mine. It's great to have him by my side. He helps me out tremendously.
Q. Kind of probably talk more about this next week, but five rounds left. Pretty solid year for you. How would you assess Lexi Thompson in 2021?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, it's been a good year. I haven't won or anything, but I've just been trying to improve on my game on and off the golf course; the mental side as well.
I feel like I've played consist golf and I'm slowly picking at it and improving on the things that I've needed to improve on, and slowly getting more and more consistent.
So that's really all I want. I know the wins will come. I just have to take it one shot, one tournament at a time, and not really look ahead at any of that.
Q. Last question from me. You've had some other endeavors off the golf course that got off the ground in 2021. Does having other things to focus on help you on the course?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it really does. I think that was -- you know, skincare is what I'm very passionate about as well, but to have something other than golf and to be involved with something like my skincare, I think it helps my mind get off the game and relax a little bit more. It's something I'm passionate about.
I love it. I love being part of something like that, to help other people out with their skin and to come out here and do what I do best I guess.
Q. When you have the rain that comes that early, I mean, right after you tee'd off, how does it change the course or what do you have to do to reevaluate things when it's that kind of downpour for a few minutes there?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, we were kind of expecting it right when we tee'd off, so it definitely stalled for a few holes. But just slows the greens up quite a bit. Gets a bit softer, so you can take probably a little bit more club off the tee knowing it's not going to roll out too much.
Other than that, just a little slower greens, but course is still in great shape. It drains so quickly with the amount it down poured within 15 minutes.
Q. Lexi, you hold a share of the 36-hole lead, and every time you started to pull away Jennifer, Nelly just seemed to keep matching you. How would you describe the round out there today?
LEXI THOMPSON: It was overall a solid day. Besides the little weather we had on first few holes, ended up being a super nice day to play golf. I just tried to stay in the moment and focus on my game. That's all I can do. They're going to put up numbers and birdies, so I just have to focus on my one shot at a time.
Q. Judy Rankin said earlier she thinks this is the best putting she's seen from you. How would you assess where your putting is at right now?
LEXI THOMPSON: Oh, well thank you. Yeah, it's been good. I've been working extremely hard. I've been putting at least two to three hours at least a day, putting at night in my house, and putting in the work.
And I've just been, you know, slowly improving, and that's all it takes. Like I said, I was really looking forward to this week, being able to drive to an event, and I'm going to continue to work hard on my game and see where it goes.
Q. What is it that's been motivating you kind of have to keep putting in all this extra time, extra effort on your game that you talked about all year long?
LEXI THOMPSON: I just think that's what is so great about golf, you can never perfect it and you can always keep improving on yourself, on and off the golf course.
And for me, out here every day is different. Every day is a new challenge, and you can keep on improving. That's the way I look at the game. That's so great about it.
Q. What is your strategy come Sunday?
LEXI THOMPSON: Same strategy as the last three days? Focus on my one shot at a time, make sure I do my routine and visualize may golf shots. That's all I can do. And put up a nice score.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports