Q. All right, here with Lexi Thompson after her third round at the FM Championship. Lexi, obviously looked like a super fun day between you and Megan out there, matching and everything. Just take us through how much you enjoyed the gallery and playing with our native resident Bostonian?
LEXI THOMPSON: The matching wasn't planned. That's for sure. She saw me on the putting green and she was like, really?
Yeah, we had a great time out there. The fans were incredible. You know, her being from here or living here, she definitely had the hometown crowd behind her cheering her on.
It's just great to see when the fans get behind us every single tournament. This tournament being the first time here, just so well run. Fans have been great. Hopefully more tomorrow and great weather. Couldn't ask for much better.
Q. Megan had a lot of really complimentary things to say about you and your career. One of them was I hope we can convince her to stay longer. Since you made your announcement, what has it been like to kind of let it settle in, and if you had any -- I don't mean second thoughts -- but how you think about it when you feel receptions like today and the fact that somebody would say that, we would love to keep her around?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, of course that means a lot. Megan and I have grown a really close relationship, especially through the Solheim Cups. Golf is such an individual sport, but us coming together that week we built a friendship and we have a good time out playing out there playing with each other, and joking around.
She is so talented and definitely one I want to play alongside. Yeah, definitely means a lot. Once I made the announcement, I'm pretty set on it. Of course there are things, like the fans, I will miss every day, hearing their cheers and the smiles. It's something I'll cherish for the rest of my life.
Q. What's your favorite part? You talk about the kids watching you or whatever. I see you even coming off a green that you'll stop and interact with fans. Is that something that's always been important to you? If so, why?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, of course. I think that's really number one to me. Of course I want to play well. We all want to do that. In my mind these fans came out, took time out of their lives to come out and watch me. Good or bad day, they love supporting us women, and that's what it's all about.
Especially the little kids. To see the smile on their faces, and bad day they're still saying, great playing, we look up to you. That's what makes the difference. We're impacting these little kids and growing the game. That's what it's all about.
So to know that I've had the impact and a lot of the girls out here as well, it's more important to leave the game in a better spot.
Q. You said the tournament was well run. What in particular has impressed you?
LEXI THOMPSON: Great question. FM Championship has done great things with the tournament. They've treated us really well. Dining, player dinner, players, caddies or guests. That was a huge buffet. FM employees were allowed to come as well and had a really good turnout, had entertainment.
It's just little things like that. Courtesy cars just to show their appreciation for us and how they want to make the tournament one the best. I think it goes to show the golf course is great. It's an amazing layout. Tough.
But what goes on behind the scenes and into it is very important as well. Whether it's the fans, buildup of the stands, that really makes a difference in a tournament.
Q. Two quick questions: One, just getting back to the retirement thing quickly, do the fans ask you or say to you, Lexi, don't do it?
LEXI THOMPSON: Oh, yeah. Every day. Like every hole they're like, don't retire. Just stay.
Q. You've heard that a lot?
LEXI THOMPSON: Oh, yeah. Yeah. I don't really know how to respond to it. I'm like, oh, thanks. I don't know. I mean, I feel the support and love from all the fans. I truly am blessed and grateful for every single one of them.
It's just something that's been on my mind for quite some time. There is more important things.
Q. The eagle putt on 2, how much were you off are how would you describe that shot?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it was a good probably 15, 18 yards off the green. You know, it was kind of one of those in betweeners. It was a putt or a bump. If I landed a chip on wouldn't have had enough spin to stop. Right after the hole it was a drop off into a bowl to a green that would've gone another 30 feet.
It was like, might as well putt it. If I'm going to putt it I know I'll putt it short if anything and give myself a birdie chance, and ended up going in it. It's a win, a bonus.
Q. A lot of tee boxes were moved up today. How did that change your strategy and did the course feel more gettable because of that?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, few were moved up. Definitely required a bit more thinking involved. The drivable hole, I think No, 4 I think, and I'm kind of blanking on the others. Yeah, definitely more gettable. On 18 if I hit the fairway I would've thought about going for it.
Some of the par-5s there is so much around the greens, so much trouble, of course you want to hit the fairway, give yourself an option to be able to go for it, but still sometimes if you're in between clubs just better off to layup and give yourself a wedge into the greens and not give yourself -- try to scramble for par or bogey.
Q. If you think of golf in like just the larger picture of women's sports and think back, I know you were so young when you entered the pro ranks, but what do you think of how the landscape has changed? What do you see in women's sports in general? Golf in its role, but overall I wonder if you see a different landscape than as a young kid coming in?
LEXI THOMPSON: I can speak on behalf the golf obviously. I think women's sports in general is growing dramatically. We're getting the appreciation and coverage that's really needed, that we deserve. But on the golf side of things, I turned pro in 2010. Since then the amount of TV coverage we have, purses that have been raised, and tournaments we've gained and sponsorships, it's pretty amazing to see that evolve over the years.
You know, it's because of the girls out here, the talent, and the way we give back to the game, and also the people behind the scenes of the tour working extremely hard and making as best they can. There is a lot that goes into it. I hope that it just continues to grow. We want to just grow the game and especially the tour.
We want to get the kids involved in the game because it's a special one.
Q. (Regarding mental reset for Solheim Cup. )
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, so I played last week at the British and then this week. I'll have about five or six days at home before I head there. Yeah, it's a whole different ballgame there that week. It's important because it's a very long week with the practice rounds and the things that we have to get to and then starting up Friday. It's long days.
So it's a matter of being able to pace yourself and getting the practice together with those girls that you might be paired up with and building those relationships and getting that energy flowing going into the week.
That is what it's really all about, coming together as one, as a team, and making sure we're ready as soon as we step foot on the first tee on Friday.
Q. If in fact it turns out your playing days are over, and there is a long list of athletes that have retired to come back, but if your decision is final, could you see yourself captaining the American team at some point?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I could definitely see that happening. It's something -- the Solheim Cup has in my mind made my career. It's one of the best events possible that I've ever played. Being able to represent your country, there is nothing like it.
To be able to be part of it in some type of way, whether assistant captain or captaining, it's definitely something on the top of my list.
Q. What do you think you will miss the most about playing as a professional golfer on tour?
LEXI THOMPSON: What I would miss most? Being an athlete, being in that competitive environment, being under the pressure and the adrenaline, having to perform, you know, under certain circumstances.
That's what we kind of train to put ourselves in those moments.
Besides that, the fans. I will miss them 100% each and every day. Seeing their smiles, hearing their cheers, there is absolutely nothing like it.
It's made my career and they pushed me to be out here longer than I have, so...
Q. Beyond adjusting to not being an tour anymore, do you have any visions of what you would like to do with the next stage of your life?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I just launched Lexi Fitness a few days ago. Hoping that people are able to see through my training and I can help them out in any way, whether it's physically, mentally, on that app. Just showing them certain exercises that have helped me a lot along the way.
Besides that, I want to travel, get to see a lot of places and explore. Then just settle down, get married, have a family one day. More important.
Q. As you step away, just your thoughts, assessment of where the women's game is today and where you hope it goes tomorrow and beyond.
LEXI THOMPSON: I think the women's game is in a great spot. These girls are so talented. These women are so talented. I mean, she shot 10-under yesterday. It's incredible. I always just tell people, you have to witness how talented these women are out here.
I think people don't realize how much training and practice we put into it to build this talent. I think the women's game is in such a great spot with tournaments and TV coverage we're gaining. Very much deserved and moving in the right direction.
I think it will continue to do so as long as we continue to build up this fan base and build these relationships with our sponsors.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports