Lexi Thompson announces retirement
Lexi Thompson, who turned pro at age 15 in 2010 and joined the LPGA in 2012, will retire at the end of the year.
The news was first shared by the USGA on Tuesday ahead of this week’s U.S. Women’s Open, where Thompson, 29, will be making her 18th start in the tournament.
Thompson became the youngest player to ever qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, doing so in 2007 at age 12 (the mark has since been broken by Lucy Li, who was 11 when competing in the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open). Thompson turned professional at age 15 and became the youngest winner in LPGA history when capturing the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic at 16 years old (the mark has since been broken by Lydia Ko, who was 15 when she won the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open).
Thompson won 15 worldwide tournaments over the next 13 years, including 11 on the LPGA. She has made more than 240 starts on the LPGA, earning more than $14 million in prize money. Her biggest career triumph came at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship, when she became the second-youngest major winner in women’s history.
It would prove to be the only major winner of her career, although she logged 19 top-10 finishes at majors and eight finishes inside the top three. This included a runner-up in a playoff at the 2017 Chevron Championship, when she received a four-shot penalty for improperly replacing her ball after marking it and then signing an incorrect scorecard.
Last fall she became just the seventh woman to play on the PGA Tour, nearly making the cut at the Shriners Children’s Open with a 73-69. She made six appearances for the United States at the Solheim Cup and compiled a 9–7–7 record in 23 matches. She also appeared in the 2016 and 2021 Summer Olympics.
“While these achievements are remarkable in and of themselves, Lexi’s impact extends far beyond the golf course,” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said in a statement. “She embodies the spirit and dedication of our founders—always showing up and engaging intentionally to help further the growth and impact of the LPGA. She is beloved by fans, consistently seen signing autographs and interacting with them no matter the result that day. … Lexi’s remarkable career and the way she has conducted herself both on and off the course have inspired countless girls around the world to pursue their goals with passion and perseverance.”
Thompson has also been open about her mental struggles with the game, once withdrawing from the 2018 Women’s British Open citing emotional and mental exhaustion. She’s also admitted that she hasn’t been feeling “100 percent” healthy in recent years as her performance has dipped.
Thompson is expected to address the media on Tuesday at Lancaster Country Club.
