Q. Here with Lexi Thompson. Opened with a bogey-free 3-under 69 today. This course always seems to suit you. Looks like you had a nice steady day today. Tell us how you feel you played.
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it was overall very steady day. I just came into the day just being grateful for the last year here and just really embracing the moment of going out there and staying in the moment, focusing on doing my routine, taking one shot at a time, and fully committing to my shots.
That's all I can do. Whatever happens from there, happens.
Q. You started on 10 and you had the three birdies in a row, 18, 1 and then 2. Walk us through the three birdies, starting on 18.
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, 18 they had the tee up so I was able to go for a it. I hit a good drive and I had 198 to the pin, to the right pin over there.
It was funny, because I was actually on the end of the green grass, and obviously you want a full shot going into that green, the height to be able to stop it.
I was like, Oh, this is perfect. It's going to take the few yards off my 4-iron to be able to stop.
So I hit a 4-iron, went about 20 feet past the hole and then just two-putted.
No. 1 hit a good drive and had 110 in. Hit a 50 degree to about 20 feet and made it.
Next hole I hit a driver. Had about 208 front and then I his 220 pin or something like that. Hit my 2-iron up there to about 35 feet and two-putted.
Q. We're hearing the course is just in immaculate condition. How did it work today?
LEXI THOMPSON: It really is. I've never seen it this good. It always surprises me every year. It's always better. But the greens are amazing. I'm one to putt and usually aim at things along the way, and there is just not an imperfection on greens to aim at; it's a good problem.
But the course is just in amazing shape. A lot of people out there to support us, which is amazing to see. So hopefully we get even more people out there.
Q. Ball striking looks silly good today.
LEXI THOMPSON: Thank you.
Q. Have you hit it this well in a while?
LEXI THOMPSON: Sorry?
Q. Have you hit it as well as you did today in a while?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, the first few events I played in this year I did hit it really well. Left a few putts out there, but I was rolling it really well, so matter of just them dropping.
I've worked extremely hard on my game, so nice to see it pay off. Really just enjoying myself a lot more out on the golf course with my caddie, Will.
Q. A lot of times people say, I left some out there, but when you walk away saying 69 is really the worst I could have shot, has to be a pretty good feeling for the rest of the week, yeah?
LEXI THOMPSON: It's a good feeling. You know, I'm more just happy with how I stayed in the moment and really focused on my one shot at a time, which was my goal going into the day. Good or bad, how I hit it, I'm just focusing on doing any routine. I did that, I accomplished that, so mini goals like that accomplishing is always a good start.
Yeah, I left a few out there, but that's golf. 69 for a first day at a major, I'll never complain.
Q. When you're working and grinding really hard in your game, is there anything new you're doing in terms of technique or drills or instructors, anything that's changed?
LEXI THOMPSON: Well, I've had the same instructor. Been working with Martin Hall a lot on my ball striking. The last few lessons it's basically just keeping my swing intact and keeping the same move through the ball that we have been working on for the last year and seeing the improvements.
But nothing too drastic. Really just with the drills for putting, you know, I have the rain drop out there and it's basically a chalk line above the ground. But I do that for hours a day when I'm home and then lag drills when I'm home, and even here just getting the feel for the speed of the greens and making sure my putts are starting online.
It's just a lot of hours that I put in.
Q. I know you've worked hard your whole career. Do you feel like you're putting in more hours now than ever before?
LEXI THOMPSON: I would say so. Definitely on the short game I would say I have. I don't know how my back is still intact with how many putts I hit every day, the hours that I've put in, but that's what it takes.
I was willing to do that. I know what you need to improve on, and I'm always willing to do it. Every time I wake up, I want to improve.
Q. Is there anything about this week off the golf course that you love to do, a restaurant you always like to go to or anything?
LEXI THOMPSON: Mom's home cooking.
Q. Yeah.
LEXI THOMPSON: We rent a house for the week and my parents are here, so my mom cooks every night. Honestly, that's the best; let alone the atmosphere of this tournament in general.
Being able to have my parents here to support me and having a house kind of feels like I'm at home. Something to be said about that.
Q. Is it the same house every year?
LEXI THOMPSON: No. It's changed over the years, especially with COVID and everything. It's changed. I struggled a bit to find one, but I found one so we're happy.
Q. Working on a story on Judy the flower lady on 18. She comes out here every year.
LEXI THOMPSON: Yep.
Q. Just your thoughts on that and how neat that is that she has been doing it for so long.
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, ever since I was here since I was 14 I remember her being here. I didn't see her today. I don't know if I passed her, but she's an amazing lady, and I think all of us look forward to seeing her coming up to the 18th green.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports