New York: The LPGA announced on Tuesday that American golf sensation Lexi Thompson, a former major champion and two-time Olympian, will bid farewell to full-time competitive golf after the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Thompson, a seasoned professional with 11 LPGA Tour victories under her belt, will mark her 18th consecutive appearance at the U.S. Women’s Open when she tees off at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania this Thursday.
In an emotional statement shared on Instagram, the 29-year-old expressed her bittersweet decision, stating, “While it is never easy to say goodbye, it is indeed time. At the end of 2024, I will be stepping away from a full professional golf schedule.”
Thompson’s illustrious career began in 2007 when, at just 12 years old, she became the youngest player ever to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, a milestone later surpassed by Lucy Li in 2014.
Her meteoric rise continued with a historic victory at the 2011 Navistar Classic, where she became the youngest winner of an LPGA event at the age of 16. Thompson further solidified her status as a golf prodigy by clinching her first LPGA major title in 2014 at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.
With over $14 million in career earnings and a remarkable legacy, including six appearances in the prestigious Solheim Cup and representing the United States in the 2016 and 2021 Olympic Games, Thompson leaves an indelible mark on the sport.
As she embarks on the next chapter of her life, Thompson expressed excitement for the future while cherishing the remaining goals she aims to accomplish in her final season on the LPGA Tour.
