Lexi Thompson addresses slow-play claims at U.S. Women’s Open

Lexi Thompson’s time at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills ended after two tough days as she missed the cut after shooting 73-74 over the first two rounds (3-over) to miss the cut by two strokes.

While Thompson didn’t make waves with her scores in Wisconsin, the 30-year-old was a big topic of conversation due to the slow pace of play around Erin Hills. Thompson played her first two rounds with Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, two of the LPGA’s fastest players. At one point during the first round, Hull went and took a seat on the ninth tee box while Thompson finished putting on No. 8. The supergroup played the first nine holes in two and a half hours. Another social-media clip appeared to show Hull muttering to herself as Thompson went through her putting routine, which led many to assume that Hull was upset at Thompson for causing their slow grind of a round.

On Sunday, Thompson posted a long message on Instagram explaining that her game was not in proper form for a U.S. Women’s Open test before addressing the slow-play allegations.

“Want people to realize our group basically waited on every single hole on the group in front, we were never out of positon/warned/or on the clock,” Thompson wrote. “I’ll be the first one to say I’m not as fast as my playing partners the two days, but I’m also the last person that wants to be out there for six hours. So before you make assumptions, make sure you get all the facts right before basing it on pictures and little clips. That’s all!”

Hull didn’t speak to the media after her rounds with Thompson but has been a vocal proponent of instituting harsh penalties for slow play.

“It’s crazy,” Hull said in November at The Annika. “I’m quite ruthless, but I said, ‘ Listen, like, if you get three bad timings, every time it’s a two-shot penalty. If you have three of them, you lose your tour card instantly. Go back to Q School.’ Because I’m sure that would hurry a lot of people up and they won’t want to lose their tour card. That’d kind of kill the slow play, but they’d never do that.”

Korda, likewise, is no fan of slow play and doesn’t understand how the epidemic continues to plague pro golf.

“Today with Charley — Charley and I played together today again, three rounds in a row, practice round,” Korda said in November. “She was talking, and it’s like either a 5 [iron] or a 6 [iron], like you got two options. It’s either wind is off your right or wind is off your left, wind is into, wind is down. You can’t — it’s just people just try to overcomplicate it.

“I just always say your first instinct is your best instinct, I would say. Just be ready when it’s your turn.”

Both Hull and Korda made the cut at Erin Hills.

Korda entered Saturday’s third round three shots off the lead and grinded out a gutty 1-over-par 73 to enter the final round at 4-under. Hull made the cut on the number and fired a 1-under 71 on Saturday to move inside the top 20.

As for Thompson, she is playing a slimmed-down schedule after stepping away from full-time competition this season. It’s unclear when she will tee it up again. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship takes place at the end of June at PGA Frisco, so there’s a good chance we’ll see Thompson for the third major if she doesn’t tee it up beforehand.