‘Close to Our Hearts’: Hours Before $500k LPGA Team Event, Lexi Thompson Reveals a Heartwarming Reason to Make a ‘Special’ Decision at TPC Harding Park

While golf enthusiasts are focusing on the Wells Fargo Championship this weekend, the women’s Tour will soon pit some of its best talents against each other. One of the most popular team events on the circuit, the International Crown returns after a five-year delay on the golf calendar.

Among the legion of superstars gracing the event is Lexi Thompson, a former winner of the competition. With a host of mentions around the event, the 2014 Chevron Championship was kind enough to reveal her heartfelt reason behind her squad number for the weekend.

What is Lexi Thompson’s lucky number?

The International Crown might be a recent establishment, but its long delay means numerous golfers will make a debut at the event. But Thompson isn’t among them, having participated in each edition of the competition.

Read more: In a First Time For Women’s Golf, US Open to Script Massive History, Marking a Special Return For LPGA Legend Annika Sorenstam

Leading a young and talented team this year, the 28-year-old will be vying to repeat their heroics of 2016, when Team USA won its first-ever International Crown. But as is with the world’s best sportspersons, superstitions run aloof during the most high-profile events.

Incidentally, during the pre-match press conference, the members of the USA team were asked for their reasons for choosing their squad numbers. While everyone else had a rather unprofound rationale, Thompson disclosed a heartwarming backstory.

“I picked 22,” the seasoned golfer said, before detailing her family reasons for taking up the number. “It’s kind of a family number. It’s my mom’s first husband that had passed, it was his favorite number and it kind of just follows my family everywhere and kind of see [sic] it, so it’s definitely special and close to our hearts.”

Is the International Crown here to stay on the golf calendar?

Similar to the men’s biennial President’s Cup, the International Crown was set up with a vision to pit the best golfing countries against each other. Making its debut in 2014, the event consists of eight teams reprising their countries, with four players each.

The competition will be played out in a Match Play format, with round-robin fourball for the first three days. The top five teams will face off in a singles battle on Sunday to determine the eventual winner of the tournament.

The 2023 edition will be played at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California. This will be the third occurrence of the country hosting the event, with Baltimore and Chicago serving as past hosts.

Watch This Story | Days After Charley Hull and Georgia Hall Gave a Heartbreak to Team England Ahead of LPGA’s $400K Event, ‘Disappointed’ Teammate Makes a Huge Revelation