After an underwhelming experience in both the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup, American golf fans are eagerly waiting for the Grand Thornton event. It is a team event where the LPGA and PGA Tour pros pair up with each other. Being a rare mixed pair event, the $4 million pool event has quite the hype, and for good reason. 

This event was especially exciting for Jessica Korda’s fans, as she was to play with Rickie Fowler as her partner. She is currently on a pregnancy break, and fans were hoping for a comeback at the Grand Thornton. But Korda recently announced her withdrawal from the event. A lot of fans were rooting for Nelly Korda to take her sister’s place, but it looks like Lexi Thompson has won the spot.

How did Lexi Thompson land Jessica Korda’s spot?

After Jessica Korda’s withdrawal, Rickie Fowler announced a contest. One fan, guessing Korda’s replacement correctly, would get Fowler’s bag from this event. Many fans had expressed Nelly Korda’s name, among others. 

The actual replacement, Lexi Thompson, confirmed her position as Fowler’s partner with an Instagram update. The Grand Thornton Invitational’s page had posted a picture of Lexi with her statement announcing the update. Thompson shared the post on her Instagram story.

Thompson also expressed her excitement about the event and praised Fowler, addressing him as the “ultimate professional” and stated that she was looking forward to a great week in Naples. The fan predictions were not far off, though. Lexi Thompson’s name was also among the guesses and one lucky fan who said her name would get Fowler’s bag.

Besides Lexi Thompson and Nelly Korda, a few other names were suggested as well. Among the most popular replacements for Jessica Korda were Thompson herself, her Solheim Cup teammate Danielle Kang, and former World No.1 Lydia Ko. 

Read more: Weeks After an Image Damaging Loss, Is Nelly Korda Playing at the 2023 Buick LPGA Shanghai?

Coming back to Thompson, the 28-year-old has been having a blast after her impressive Solheim Cup outing and hence this announcement has created a lot of excitement. 

Lexi Thompson is on a roll post-Solheim Cup

The 11-time LPGA Tour winner finished the Solheim Cup with 3 wins in the four matches she played in. She won the singles match against Emily Pederson on day three. In the first two days, she won both the matches she played alongside Megan Khang. The only match she lost was at day one’s afternoon session. 

After the Solheim Cup, she played in the Arkansas event and finished tied for 8th position. She followed this up with a top 5 finish at the Ascendant Championship. 

That is not all. Lexi Thompson has received the honor of getting an exemption to play in the Shriners Open alongside PGA Tour golfers, an invitation treasured by many.

Looks like Lexi Thompson’s momentum is only going to keep scaling up. What more could her fans ask for? 

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