KPMG Women's PGA Championship R2: Semi-retired Lexi Thompson in contention after 36 holes in Texas

Lexi Thompson admitted her group was playing too slowly during the second round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. 

Thompson played the first two rounds of the third women's major of the year alongside former US Open champion Yuka Saso and and America's Yealimi Noh. 

According to Thompson, the trio fell at least a hole behind on Friday at PGA Frisco's Field Ranch East golf course.

The wind was whipping on day two but a rules official still decided the group needed to pick things up. 

"Yeah, we were on the clock," Thompson told reporters after getting herself into contention after 36 holes. 

Thompson fired a 2-under 70 to set the clubhouse lead before the afternoon wave took to the course.

A bogey at the final hole, the difficult par-4 18th, robbed her of a clean scorecard. 

"We were warned and then put on the clock for maybe two to three holes, two and a half holes, something like that.

"Yeah, it's not ideal out there, especially when it's super windy and you have to back off shots because of gusts and everything like that.

"But it happens. I mean, we fell maybe a hole behind. I didn't think that we were playing -- I mean, we were playing slow. It took three hours to play the front nine. 

"But it's a difficult golf course. Pins are tough, and some holes are just really par holes that you can't really hold greens on too, and some holes you have to pitch out.

"So it's difficult golf course to play quickly, safe to say."

Thompson's pace of play came into sharp focus two weeks ago at the US Women's Open.

The veteran LPGA Tour star, who is playing a reduced schedule these days, was playing in a marquee group that included Nelly Korda and Charley Hull. 

Hull appeared to get agitated with the speed of which the trio were going. 

Thompson later released a lengthy statement and declared that any armchair critics need to think twice. 

"I also want to add on this, because pace of play was a huge talk this week," she said.  

"Want people to realise our group basically waited on every single hole on the group in front, we were never out of position/warned/or on the clock.

"I'll be the first one to say I'm not as fast as my playing partners the two days, but I'm also the last person that wants to be out there for six hours."