As a 12-year-old in 2007, Lexi Thompson strode onto the big stage at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, in a visor and pigtails as the youngest qualifier in history to that point.
Despite shooting 76-82 and not advancing to the weekend, Thompson served notice that she was a child golfer with worlds of potential.
Returning to the U.S. Women’s Open stage this week at Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Country Club, Thompson announced that she will retire as a full-time player on the LPGA Tour at the end of the season. When she tees off at 1:58 p.m. EDT Thursday with Rose Zhang and Minjee Lee, it will mark her 18th consecutive U.S. Women’s Open, and she’s only 29.
“It feels amazing just to be here this week,” Thompson, an 11-time LPGA Tour winner, said in her pre-tournament news conference. “Reflecting back, this being my 18th U.S. Women's Open, at the age of 29, it's amazing because this tournament is where my whole career got started. I always say that 2007 at Pine Needles when I teed it up is when I realized I want to play against the best. It's been an amazing journey. I've loved every bit of it. So, to be able to tee it up on my 18th is unbelievable.”
Similar to another golfer who announced his retirement from competition before his 30th birthday, Bobby Jones in 1930 after winning the Grand Slam, this announcement was a stunner.
“It's my 14th year [on tour],” Thompson said in explaining her decision. “I'm not going to sit here and say it hasn't crossed my mind in … the past few years, but I feel like I'm at a point in my life where it is time to step away from a full-time schedule. There's more things to life than going to a tournament every week and doing the same training every day. There's just more to it, and I'm looking forward to experiencing that. I feel like I'm very content with where my life is and where this decision will lead me to. Yeah, I'm just looking forward to what life has in store other than golf.”
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