LPGA Star Lexi Thompson Announces Her Retirement From Full-Time Golf

In a surprise move, Lexi Thompson announced that the 2024 season would be her last in full-time competition on the LPGA Tour.

The 11-time winner on the circuit made her plans known through a video posted on Instagram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lexi Thompson (@lexi)

Thompson said, in part:

“I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life. Time with family, friends, and my trusted companion 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.”

After the announcement, the tributes came pouring in on social media.

“It is with immense pride and gratitude that we celebrate Lexi’s extraordinary career. With 11 LPGA Tour wins, including a major championship at The Chevron Championship and a victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, Lexi has built an impressive legacy of on-course… pic.twitter.com/Yc0dXmGGVZ

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 28, 2024

I’m sad for women’s golf but happy for Lexi Thompson, who’s retiring after this season.

In my time covering the LPGA, no player made a bigger impact.

I’ll miss her graciousness out there. But, most of all, I’ll miss her ball-striking.

What a f**king flusher. 💪🔥

— Lisa Cornwell (@LisaMCornwell) May 28, 2024

Despite being just 29, Thompson has been a well-known figure in the game for close to two decades. In 2007, at the age of 12, Thompson became the youngest person to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. 

She became the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour, winning the Navistar LPGA Classic as a 16-year-old in 2011. The record was since broken by Lydia Ko, who won at age 15.

Thompson’s only major win came in 2014 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and finished either second or third in a major eight more times. She also won the season-long LPGA Tour title in 2017. 

Overall, she sits 10th on the all-time LPGA Tour money list, earning just over $14 million.

Last fall, Thompson received a sponsor’s exemption into the PGA Tour Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas. She thrilled the crowd on the first two days of the tournament, missing the cut by just two strokes. 

Lexi Thompson put on a show when she made her @PGATOUR debut at the 2023 @ShrinersOpen 👏 pic.twitter.com/vgBmlM74tS

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 28, 2024

She shot a 69 in the second round at TPC Summerlin, becoming only the second woman to break 70 in a PGA Tour event. After her time in that event, Thompson said that her long-term goal was to inspire young girls.

Cover Image via Golf Magazine