Lexi Thompson Cards Ace Alongside Rickie Fowler at Grant Thornton Invitational

Rickie Fowler didn’t need much time to assess the strategy the he and Lexi Thompson employed for Saturday’s alternate-shot format at the Grant Thornton Invitational.

“It worked out good, she made a 1,” Fowler joked.

On the par-3 16th, Thompson teed it up two full club lengths from the official markers, which measured 158 yards to the pin. She knew the additional yardage would give her the boost of confidence she was looking for before launching a three-quarter 7-iron directly at the pin.

“I had 158 hole, a little breeze in. I mean, not much, it was pretty dead towards the end of the round. Ended up taking my 7-iron, which is my like 62 to 65 club, and backed up two club lengths from the tee marker and just tried to hit like a 3/4 [shot]. I was just hoping it was the right number and it ended up being a perfect number,” Thompson said.

“Never left the flag,” Fowler added.

Thompson’s ball one-hopped into the hole for her 11th career ace, sending the crowd at the co-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and LPGA Tours into a frenzy.

“There was a lot of people around that tee box,” Thompson said. “It was nice to high five everybody and hear all the cheers. I can't wait to watch the video of it later probably. Definitely a good feeling. I mean, hitting a golf shot or making a putt and just committing to it and seeing the shot at hand and really just pulling it off, it's always a great feeling.”

🚨 ACE FOR LEXI 🚨@Lexi and @RickieFowler are now one back of the lead @GTInvitational! pic.twitter.com/zlPleOSM5k
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 9, 2023

Thompson’s hole in one helped the duo of Cobra-Puma sponsees shoot up the leaderboard ahead of Sunday’s final round. With three bogeys, five birdies and Thompson’s ace, the pair finished at 4 under par for Saturday’s foursomes round, four shots behind the solo leaders Jason Day and Lydia Ko, who shot a 6-under 66.

The Grant Thornton Invitational marks the first mixed-gender event on the schedule since the JCPenney Classic in 1999. Sixteen pairs of male and female pros are teeing it up in the 54-hole event, which features a $4 million purse.