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It is the mental side of life that Thompson
continues to ponder as she returns to play in the Indy Women in
Tech Championship starting Thursday at Indianapolis.
The tournament is the first in more than a month for the LPGA
star, who withdrew from last month's British Open due to the
need to focus on herself.
The 23-year-old American simply felt she needed the time away
from golf -- from both a mental and emotional standpoint.
"I would say it's just figuring out what really makes me happy
off the golf course, as well, figuring myself out," Thompson
said at Wednesday's press conference. "I have transformed myself
around this game for such a long time, ever since I was 5 years
old."
The nine-time winner hasn't posted a victory this season. In
fact, her most recent title was at the Indianapolis event last
season.
Overall, 2017 was a tough year for Thompson. Her mother, Judy,
was battling uterine cancer, and there also was the
controversial four-stroke penalty she received for incorrectly
marking her ball at the ANA Inspiration. She was penalized one
day after making the mistake at the major tournament.
Later in the season, Thompson missed a two-foot putt on the 18th
hole at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship to wave
good-bye to a potential victory.
Thompson said she is working with a therapist to deal with her
personal struggles.
"It was honestly just a buildup," Thompson said about her need
for an emotional break. "The last year and a half, I have
honestly been struggling a lot, emotionally, and it's hard
because I can't really show it. It was just so much to deal
with, and I had to show that I was still OK and still play golf.
"And I don't even know how I played that well, honestly. And I
think it just kind of all hit me coming into this year. You can
only stay strong for so long and hide it. I am a very strong
person, but at times you just need a break."
Despite this year's 13-tourney winless stretch, Thompson does
have five top-10 finishes and is ranked fifth in the world.
"You just have to take the positive out of everything, realize
that I have had a great year," Thompson said. "I haven't won,
but I'm trying my best in every tournament, that's all I can
do."
One thing Thompson has realized is simplistic in nature.
"I'm not just a robot out there," she said. "I need to have a
life."
--Field Level Media
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