After 2024, 29-year-old Lexi Thompson will announce her retirement from professional golf. It can be quite a bit to be here. It could be isolated.
During the final round of the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament at Congressional Country Club, Lexi Thompson hits her shot from the fifth tee.
At the age of 29, American golfer Lexi Thompson announced on Tuesday that she would be retiring from the game at the conclusion of the 2024 season, capping a distinguished career.
Before making her 18th consecutive US Women’s Open participation this week, the 11-time LPGA Tour champion made her decision public. It has been 17 years since she first made headlines as the youngest golfer to ever qualify for the US Women’s Open, at the age of 12.
Having turned professional three years later, in 2010, the Floridian clinched major glory at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship—now the Chevron Championship—and represented Team USA at six Solheim Cups as well as two Olympic Games.
“While it is never easy to say goodbye, it is indeed time,” Thompson wrote in a letter, accompanied by a video, on Instagram.
“I’m excited to enjoy the remainder of the year, as there are still goals I want to accomplish. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life. Time with family, friends, and my trusted companion [dog], Leo.
“I will always look for ways to contribute to the sport and inspire the next generation of golfers. And of course, I look forward to a little time for myself.”
Thompson peaked as high as world No. 4 as she amassed a string of titles, but injuries contributed to a gradual drop in ranking to world No. 54. She has not registered a victory on the LPGA Tour since June 2019, but did win an individual title at the Aramco Team Series, a Ladies European Tour (LET) event, in October 2022.
Finishing eight times inside the top-three at the five flagship events, Thompson repeatedly came agonizingly close to adding to her sole major crown, including an infamous near-miss at the 2017 ANA Inspiration (now Chevron Championship).
A rules violation for mismarking her ball, reported by a TV viewer, saw Thompson hit with a four-shot penalty during the third round. Though she rallied to make a playoff, she was subsequently defeated by South Korea’s Ryu So-yeon.
“You haven’t always been easy on me, or fair for that matter, but through all the ups and downs, you’ve given me a platform to inspire others and positively impact the world,” Thompson said in her letter.
“That has been a driving force that kept me playing and relentlessly working to be better.”
‘A whirlwind of constant attention, scrutiny and pressure’
Thompson spoke through tears during a press conference at Pennsylvania’s Lancaster Country Club, US Women’s Open host, on Tuesday.
Her letter described a “whirlwind of constant attention, scrutiny, and pressure” since her breakthrough as a 12-year-old, with social media playing its part in Thompson sometimes finding it “exhausting to maintain a smile on the outside while grappling with struggles on the inside.”
Asked what she was most proud of for overcoming during her career, a tearful Thompson answered: “Just staying true to myself. Being out here can be a lot. It can be lonely.
“I’ll be the last one to say, like, throw me a pity party. That’s the last thing I want. We’re doing what we love. We’re trying our best every single day. You know, we’re not perfect. We’re humans. Words hurt. It’s hard to overcome sometimes.
“But having the people around you that love you and support you, I feel like that’s been the biggest thing for me. I might not have a huge friend group, but having the people that matter the most around me has gotten me through some really hard times.”
In October, Thompson became just the seventh woman ever to compete at a PGA Tour event when she teed up at the Shriners Open, narrowly missing out on making the cut after shooting even-par.
Earlier this year, she joined compatriot Rose Zhang as the first women to take part in The Match, squaring off against PGA Tour stars Rory McIlroy and Max Homa.
“To all the girls that have cheered for me, you have been my inspiration, my encouragement and my strength,” Thompson added in her letter.
“On the days that were tough and I wanted to give up, your support motivated me to dig deep and keep competing.”
‘An inspirational player on and off the course’
Tributes poured in from fellow players following Thompson’s announcement, including from world No. 1 and US Women’s Open tournament favorite Nelly Korda.
“She’s had such an amazing career,” Korda, chasing a seventh win in eight starts, told reporters Tuesday.
