SYLVANIA, Ohio —
Making the case for LPGA Veteran Lexi Thompson to be the odds-on favorite to win the Marathon Classic is an easy one to make. She already has one victory this year, which came just one month ago at the ShopRite LPGA Classic and has finished within the top-five four other times in 2019.
Not only is Thompson playing golf at a high level this year, displayed by her number four overall ranking in the world, she has also become one of this week’s toughest competitors at Highland Meadows Golf Course.
Although Thompson is yet to hoist the Marathon Classic trophy, she has been close a few times. She has finished both second and third, as well as 15th and 18th in years past.
“It’s in pretty good shape,” she told WTOL's Jordan Strack when describing the current state of her game. “I just came off a five-week stretch. I took a few weeks off before this one which was very needed. In that five-week stretch, I’ve had a lot of good finishes and a win there. I have a lot of confidence coming into this stretch now. I’ve just been working really hard but making sure to also take the rest that I need.”
This week will mark her fifth tournament in five weeks and one that she has been looking forward to lately. Of all the cities she plays in throughout the year, Toledo is one of her favorites.
“The players love coming here to Toledo. We really have great fans here but I just love being here, it’s a very easy week for me,” she said. “It’s a good layout course-wise. It just requires a lot of birdies. I think if I just make those puts out there and get those good iron shots into the greens, I’ll make some birdies out there.”
Thompson is slated to tee-off Thursday afternoon at 1:32 p.m.