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Lexi Thompson Looks To Start LPGA Season With A Bang

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Lexi Thompson is not scheduled to play at this week’s LPGA Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida. But the Florida native, who turns 27 next month, is gearing up for the fight within a very tough field of competitors in 2022.

Currently placed at No. 12 in the world Rolex Rankings, Thompson logged six top-ten outings last year, while taking second place in three tournaments that included the Gainbridge LPGA Tournament (February 2021), the Kia Classic (March 2021), and the Pelican Women’s Championship, last November. At Pelican, Thompson was edged out in a playoff round the final day by Olympic gold medalist and world No. 1 Nelly Korda.

But Thompson, known for her driving prowess and cool demeanor on the course, considers last season’s successes something to build on. But she also acknowledged, in a short interview I did with her this month, that focus is the name of the game.

“Staying in the present and maintaining patience on the golf course is something I think we all have to work on,” Thompson said last week.

The winner of 11 LPGA Tour events and among them the 2014 ANA Inspiration—a tournament largely considered the women’s Masters Tournament—also says that a little conventional golf wisdom goes a long way.

“As cliché as it sounds, taking it one shot at a time allows you to compete at the highest level consistently,” Thompson added. “It’s something I’ve gotten better at in my career over time.”

In addition to her stellar play, it could be Thompson’s unflappable nature that also makes her a favorite with diehard fans as well as the professional game’s sponsors.

As such, this month Velocity Global, a leading provider of global expansion solutions that include technology and human resource management, announced that it has decided to partner with Thompson, making her one of its most highly touted golf ambassadors.

The company has also signed on as the “Official Global Work Platform” partner of both the LPGA and Ladies European Tour (LET) in a multi-year agreement. As a part of the deal, Velocity Global will work formally with the LPGA Tour and LET to highlight players globally through what it calls “enhanced storytelling and player recognition,” in a campaign set to put forth across more than 60 countries.

Along with Thompson, Velocity Global has also tapped former Stanford collegiate standout and rising LPGA star, Albane Valenzuela. In enlisting both women to join its ranks, the firm adds to its roster of global brand ambassadors, which already boasts 2021 DP World Tour BMW PGA champion Billy Horschel and four-time Advocates Pro Golf Association (APGA) Tour champion Kevin Hall.

Rob Wellner, Velocity Global’s chief revenue officer, expressed his excitement about having two players important to the women’s game sign on.

“Lexi and Albane carry our message to a global audience that embraces the opportunity to work for anyone, anywhere,” Wellner said. “We can’t wait to support both of them as they compete around the world.”

Thompson also echoed her excitement about joining up with one of professional golf’s newer and more committed sponsors.

“Velocity Global’s involvement in the golf space, specifically with the LPGA Tour, is exciting, and a natural fit, in my opinion, as more than 32 countries are represented on our tour, and given all the countries that we visit and where we compete.” 

Thompson, who has 14 total professional wins since turning professional in 2010 at age 15, is also noted as the youngest golfer ever to qualify to play in the U.S. Women's Open. But she hints that being a trailblazer in golf has also compelled her to keep evolving as a player.

She says specifically that improving her physical strength and becoming perhaps the LPGA’s most fit competitor will be a key to her continued success.

“Outside of hitting balls and playing, I spend a lot of time in the gym, working on fitness and golf-specific strength,” she said.

Throughout the last year-plus, Thompson has been working with trainer Kolby Tullier. Tullier, a renowned strength and fitness expert based in Jupiter, Florida, has worked with other notable names in golf that include Jessica Korda, Justin Thomas, Max Homa, Rick Lamb, and Marina Alex, as well as MLB stars Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt.

While it’s obvious that Lexi Thompson aims to start this next season with a bang, she isn’t sharing any trade secrets or any of her golf workout tips with anyone.

“I work closely with my trainer to set specific goals regularly. Those (goals) are something I keep to myself—because it is important that the goals are mine and mine only.”

Read Andy Frye’s interviews with Lindsey Vonn and Tom Brady.

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