Lexi Thompson to Retire from Full-Time Golf Competition
Career Highlights and Early Start
Lexi Thompson, known for her powerful game and appeal to young fans, is retiring from full-time competition at the end of this year. Thompson's career has been marked by both significant achievements and near-misses in major tournaments.
Youngest winner of LPGA Tour event
This week, she will compete in her 18th US Women’s Open at the age of 29, a testament to a career that began extraordinarily early. Thompson made headlines in 2007 when, at just 12 years old, she qualified for the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles, becoming the youngest player ever to do so at the time. At 16, she set another record as the youngest winner of an LPGA Tour event, capturing the Navistar LPGA Classic title.
Major Achievements and Near Misses
Thompson has claimed 15 victories on the LPGA Tour. Her most notable triumph came at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship, her sole major victory, when she was just 19. Despite her success, Thompson often found herself just short in other majors, finishing as the runner-up in four instances. One of the most memorable was in 2017, when she was penalized four shots during the final round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship for a rules violation that occurred the previous day. In 2021, she also experienced a heartbreaking loss at The Olympic Club in the US Women’s Open after holding a five-shot lead.
Early Influences and Powerful Game
Growing up playing golf with her brothers, two of whom reached the PGA Tour, Thompson was renowned for her powerful drives. Her strength on the course was evident early in her career and has remained a hallmark of her game. In 2022, she accepted an exemption to play in a PGA Tour event in Las Vegas, where she impressed many by nearly making the cut.
Recent Performance and Future Plans
Despite her impressive career, Thompson has not won an LPGA event in nearly five years. However, she did secure a victory on the Ladies European Tour in 2022. As she steps away from full-time competition, Thompson leaves behind a legacy of remarkable talent and memorable moments that have inspired many young golfers.
