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Lexi Thompson wins Honda LPGA Thailand by six strokes, rises to No. 3 in world ranking

February 28, 2016
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Here’s bad news for the rest of the LPGA: What if Lexi Thompson has finally figured out this putting thing?

The 21-year-old talent has struggled on the greens throughout her brief career, but not last week at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Thompson needed only 28 putts per round at Siam Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand, to romp to a six-stroke victory over reigning U.S. Women’s Open champions In Gee Chun. The victory, the seventh of her career, moved Lexi to No. 3 in the Rolex Rankings, behind Lydia Ko and Inbee Park, making her the highest-ranked American after passing Stacy Lewis.

Thompson got an early challenge on Sunday from Chun, who opened with three consecutive birdies, but Lexi made two birdies and an eagle in five holes beginning at No. 6 to close with a 68 and finish at 20-under-par 268.

“Maybe on 17 green,” Thompson said with a laugh when asked when she started to relax. “I always try to stay aggressive and my goal was to get to 20 under today.”

Which is exactly what she did. And that should set things up nicely as Thompson joins Ko and Park in the increasingly heated battle to be the best in women’s golf.