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Lexi Thompson in control in LPGA's first major of year

 
Lexi Thompson plays 28 holes Saturday at the wind-delayed ANA Inspiration and leads by two.
Lexi Thompson plays 28 holes Saturday at the wind-delayed ANA Inspiration and leads by two.
Published April 2, 2017

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Lexi Thompson excelled on an extra-long day at the ANA Inspiration, and she put herself in prime position to win her second major title.

Thompson claimed the lead in the LPGA Tour's first major of the year while completing her wind-delayed second round Saturday, and then she moved two shots ahead of Suzann Pettersen with a third-round 5-under 67. After playing 28 holes Saturday, Thompson was at 13-under 203.

"I struggled a little bit off the tee and had a few more rough shots than I wanted, but you can't ever complain about a 5-under round," Thompson said.

Thompson's victory in the 2014 tournament is her only major victory, but the American excels on the Dinah Shore Course at Mission Hills Country Club. She smashed her drives on the way to six birdies in the third round, keeping a competitive field squarely behind her.

"I just love this golf course," Thompson said. "I get to hit a lot of drivers, and it just sets up nicely for me all over."

Thompson and Pettersen (third-round 68) stayed ahead of a field posting unusually low scores, with the 2-over 146 cut matching the lowest cut score in tournament history. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome, a two-time winner of the tournament, missed the cut by one.

Desert wind called an early halt to Thursday's play and forced two days of catchup; 56 golfers to complete their second rounds Saturday morning. The field got all caught up on a perfect desert day.

"It's definitely not a usual week, what we're used to, but it's a major week," said Thompson, who couldn't tee off Friday until roughly 90 minutes before sunset.

Ten players were within five shots of the lead , including Inbee Park at 10 under, and Michelle Wie and world No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn at 8 under.

PGA: Round 2 leader Sung Kang shot 1-under 71 for a three-shot lead over Rickie Fowler (67) at 17-under 199 after the third round of the Houston Open in Humble, Texas. Fowler bogeyed 17 and double-bogeyed 18 to give Kang a little more breathing room.

Champions: Gene Sauers shot 9-under 63 to take a one-shot lead at 12-under 132 after the second round of the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic in Biloxi. Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez (66) was alone in second. Glen Day (67) and first-round leader Joe Durant (69) were three shots off the lead.

Day's mother better: Jason Day, in Augusta, Ga., preparing for this week's Masters, said his mother is doing much better after March 24 surgery to treat her lung cancer. Day withdrew from the World Golf Championships Match Play two weeks ago to be with his mother in Ohio.

High-roller Mickelson: Phil Mickelson paid professional gambler Billy Walters $1.95 million for gambling debts in 2012, according to documents presented at Walters' insider trading trial in New York last week. That year, Mickelson earned $48 million, according to the documents reported by the New York Post. Asked about the report after his second round at the Houston Open, Mickelson said only: "I don't know what else to add."