The LPGA Tour is in the midst of a two-week, two-major stretch with the Evian Championship taking place this week in Évian-les-Bains, France, but one of the game’s top American stars will not be around to play the weekend.
Third-ranked Lexi Thompson shot rounds of 77-72 to miss the cut by five strokes, and she took to social media to air some grievances with the course conditions in a passive-aggressive manner.
“So Evian, where do I begin,” Thompson wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post. “I’d be the first to tell you that I hit it like ? the first day and missed everything. Not one to make excuses, but to land 3-4 drives in the middle of fairway and end up in the rough like the one pic with a stance like that, or get a first cut lie like this one, what is this telling you? And to play well today hit one bad golf shot but hit 3 iron shots right at the pin 5 ft at one point then end up 40+ ft….umm really?
“I’m actually very thankful that I don’t have to put myself thru that for another two days. You’re a beautiful place Evian but that’s just too many bad breaks with good shots for me, so bye @evianchamp ! #justnotforme #allgood #onward”
Checking in on Lexi’s week at the Evian pic.twitter.com/ttbYEXMdwf
— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) July 26, 2019
As one of the most recognizable and marketable stars on the LPGA Tour, Thompson was quick to walk back her criticism, thank the sponsors and congratulate the women who are playing well this week.
“Hi everyone, I want to clear up any confusion from my earlier post,” she wrote. “My words were only directed at my frustration of not playing well in a Major and at the unfortunate bounces we all get while playing this crazy game called golf. I didn’t mean it in a mean way at all. Obviously just hasn’t been the course for me the last few years, but some girls are playing great and I wish them the best of luck this weekend!
“I am truly so thankful for the amazing support of Evain & Rolex and all of the sponsors associated with this event and giving us the opportunity to come here. I also would like to thank all of the volunteers and fans that make this tournament possible! Evian is a beautiful place and I always enjoy spending time in this part of the world, it just wasn’t meant to be and hey that happens !??♀️ I will be out at the course this weekend working on my game, so please come out and support the event and say hello!#Evian #Rolex @evianchamp”
Indeed some girls are playing great, including Lexi’s playing partner over the first two rounds, Sung Hyun Park, who sits in second place, one shot back of 54-hole leader Hyo Joo Kim.
