Lexi Thompson Retires: Here’s Her Emotional Closing to a Career

Lexi Thompson had six months to get ready for this moment, but she said it didn’t hit her until the final hole.

After the 29-year-old announced in May that she would be wrapping up her full-time LPGA career at the end of this season, she said following her final tournament on Sunday that it all became clear on hole No. 9 (she had a front-nine finish) at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thompson said after she wrapped up her round:

“It was very emotional … Really wasn’t until I got to No. 9 for some reason. Kind of all hit me. I’ve held a lot in. I think as athletes you’re always told to be strong and be intimidating on the golf course. Don’t show any sign of weakness.”

Among the 11-time winner’s accolades are becoming the youngest winner in the LPGA and the youngest to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, doing so at just 12 years old. She also nearly made the cut at the PGA Tour’s Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas last year.

The first thing on her retirement list? More golf

“I will take a few days off because of Thanksgiving and just to shut it down a little bit and give my mind a reset. I’m sure I’ll be right back into it at the end of this week and going into next week just trying to get ready for Grant Thornton.”

She’ll be back at Tiburon Golf Club from Dec. 13 – 15  for the Grant Thornton Invitational – an event that pairs an LPGA golfer with a PGA Tour pro. She’ll be teaming with Rickie Fowler for that tournament.

Cover Image via BBC