Justin Thomas has shared pivotal advice for Lexi Thompson as she prepares to compete at Erin Hills in 2025, offering guidance that could influence her performance this season. Both golfers have faced challenging periods in their careers, and Thomas’ insight draws from his own experience overcoming a drought in wins. His encouragement highlights the importance of leveraging Thompson’s natural strengths and aggressive play on a course that favors powerful driving.

Lexi Thompson, once lauded as a golf prodigy for her record-breaking debut at age 12 and early professional victories, has experienced a lull since her last LPGA win in 2019. Justin Thomas, after a similar stretch without titles following his 2022 PGA Championship victory, recently broke through by winning the 2025 RBC Heritage. His advice carries weight, given his recent resurgence and deep understanding of competitive pressure.

Justin Thomas Emphasizes Using Power and Confidence at Erin Hills

Currently competing at The Memorial Tournament, Thomas emphasized the value of commanding driving power at Erin Hills, a course known for its expansive fairways. He advised Thompson to exploit her natural ability to hit the ball long and high, recognizing that this advantage could be decisive on the U.S. Open-style setup. Thomas highlighted a conversation with Lexi’s caddie, Curtis Thompson, to underline his straightforward message:

“Tell Lexi to be Lexi. Like just send a driver.”

Hit it as far as you can and high. I felt like — I was actually talking to Curtis Thompson a little, he’s caddieing for Lexi, and he texted me a couple weeks ago asking about it. He said the same thing, like any advice, and I’m like just, Tell Lexi to be Lexi. Like just send a driver. They’re big fairways, it was very, um-U.S. Open like, in my opinion, the golf course, just with how the fairways were so big and some of the greens were big. But it just was, you know, it was a totally different look and setup.

—Justin Thomas, PGA Tour Player

Thomas pointed out that longer hitters who can also generate height with irons can excel at Erin Hills, which suits Thompson’s style. The course’s wide fairways reward aggressive shot-making and distance, making her driving skills a potential game-changer. This advice is significant, given the challenges Thompson has faced in recent tournaments.

Lexi Thompson’s Driving: Strengths Rooted in Technique and Physicality

Lexi Thompson’s powerful driving statistics highlight why she is seen as one of the most formidable players off the tee in women’s golf. Averaging 267.89 yards and maintaining a 66.84% drive accuracy, her ability to combine distance with control is rare. Standing six feet tall, Thompson uses her height and strength to increase clubhead speed and power, crafting a low-spin draw that maximizes roll on fairways and extends carry distance.

This physical prowess is paired with refined techniques and a focused mental approach. Such traits are essential at Erin Hills, where the terrain and wind require both power and precision. Despite her natural advantages, Thompson remains under scrutiny after a 2024 season marked by inconsistent outcomes, including six missed cuts and a disappointing missed cut at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open.

Refining the Pre-Shot Routine: How Thompson Prepares for Each Tee Shot

To optimize her performance, Lexi Thompson adheres to a highly structured pre-shot routine that enhances consistency and focus. She selects a small target point to aim at, guided by her principle of “aim small, miss small,” which helps sharpen her concentration. On windy days, she adjusts by identifying both a start line and a finish line for her shots to mitigate the effect of the wind, crucial for the gusty conditions at Erin Hills.

Visualization plays an important role in her preparation, as Thompson mentally rehearses her desired shot before taking one or two practice swings to ingrain the tempo needed. For better control, she slightly chokes down on the club and takes deep breaths to maintain calmness and steady rhythm just before swinging.

She ensures her clubface aligns precisely toward her aim point and resets her breathing to sustain the relaxed tempo required. This careful planning is designed to help navigate Erin Hills’ challenging layout, which demands both aggressive distance and accuracy.

Challenges and Recent Performances Loom Large for Thompson

Despite Thompson’s exceptional driving characteristics and technical preparation, recent results have created pressure to prove she can return to her earlier dominance. In 2025, she appeared in four tournaments, with her best finishes being a tie for 13th at the Founders Cup and a tie for 14th at the Chevron Championship. With her 19th U.S. Women’s Open approaching, eyes will be on her ability to translate her raw skill and proven methods into a competitive edge on the big stage.

Her drive length and approach at Erin Hills will be critically examined, as the course’s large fairways favor players capable of aggressive, high-powered shots. Justin Thomas’ encouragement to simply “be Lexi” resonates as a reminder for Thompson to trust her instincts and strengths amid the high expectations.

A New Chapter Begins at Erin Hills for Thompson

The advice from Justin Thomas arrives at an important juncture in Lexi Thompson’s career, offering renewed hope and a clear strategy as she faces one of golf’s most physically demanding courses. Thomas’ perspective as a fellow player who has overcome competitive struggles underscores the importance of mental resolve and trusting one’s natural game.

Should Thompson embrace Thomas’ counsel, her powerful driving could allow her to leverage the course’s layout effectively, potentially reigniting her winning form. Her performance at Erin Hills may set the tone for a pivotal 2025 season, one where past challenges are met with renewed passion and focus.