Lexi Thompson, one of the biggest stars in women’s professional golf over the past 15 years, announced Tuesday that this will be her final season competing full time on the LPGA Tour.
“While it is never easy to say goodbye, it is indeed time,” Thompson, 29, posted to Instagram. “At the end of 2024, I will be stepping away from a full professional golf schedule. I’m excited to enjoy the remainder of the year as there are still goals I want to accomplish.
“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.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Thompson, a two-time Olympian and six-time competitor in the Solheim Cup, said she wasn’t sure how much golf she would play in the future. She said Tuesday she’d been contemplating retirement for a few months.
“I’m taking it day by day right now,” Thompson told reporters at the U.S. Women’s Open. “I’m not going to say yes or no on how many events I’ll play or if I do. I’m just going to take it day by day and see how I feel, especially going into next year, but I’m very content with this being my last full-time schedule year.”
Thompson became emotional while explaining her decision Tuesday, saying mental health was a factor.
“I think we all have our struggles, especially out here,” she said. “Unfortunately in golf you lose more than you win, so it’s an ongoing battle to continue to put yourself out there in front of the cameras and continuing to work hard and maybe not seeing the results you want and getting criticized for it. So it’s hard.
“I will say, yes, I’ve struggled with it — I don’t think there’s somebody out here that hasn’t. It’s just a matter of how well you hide it, which is very sad.”
Thompson, a onetime child prodigy, will be making her 18th straight start in the U.S. Women’s Open. She was the youngest golfer to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open — doing it as a 12-year-old at Pine Needles in 2007 — and she made the cut in the major as a 14-year-old in 2009.
She also won the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship in 2008 and compiled a 4-0-1 record for the U.S. team at the Curtis Cup in 2010.
Thompson, from Coral Springs, Florida, turned pro in 2010 and captured the first of her 11 LPGA victories at the Navistar LPGA Classic in September 2011. A 15-time winner around the world, Thompson’s lone major championship victory came at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.
Lexi Thompson
• Born Feb. 10, 1995, in Coral Springs, Florida
• 15 career worldwide wins (11 LPGA Tour wins)
• One major win (2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship)
• Six-time member of Solheim Cup team; remains youngest-ever U.S. participant (18)
• Became youngest winner in LPGA Tour history at 16 (Navistar LPGA Classic); record has since been broken
• Runner-up at the 2010 Evian Masters at the age of 15
• Qualified for 2007 U.S. Women’s Open at age 12 (youngest to do so at the time); record has since been broken
In her video “letter I wrote to the game of golf” that she posted to Instagram, Thompson described her relationship with the sport as “complicated at times.”
She pulled out of the 2018 Women’s British Open to “recharge her batteries” and focus on her life off the course. She has recently dealt with a lingering hand injury and missed the cut in four of her six starts this season. She is 64th in the tour’s season-long points race.
“Although this has been an amazing journey, it hasn’t always been an easy one,” Thompson said in her video. “Since I was 12, as a golfer, my life has been a whirlwind of constant attention, scrutiny and pressure. The cameras are always on, capturing every swing and every moment on and off the golf course. Social media never sleeps, with comments and criticisms flooding in from around the world.
“It can be exhausting maintaining a smile on the outside while grappling with struggles on the inside. By opening up about my battles, I’ve been able to connect with others who feel isolated in their struggles, offering them a sense of community and understanding. Each time I share, it reinforces the message that it’s OK to not be OK, and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
Thompson spoke more about the loneliness she has experienced as a golfer while addressing reporters later Tuesday. She made a vague reference to Grayson Murray, who spoke openly about alcoholism and his struggles with depression and anxiety from life as a tour professional. Murray died by suicide on Saturday.
“Being out here can be a lot. It can be lonely,” she said. “I just think — especially with what’s happened in golf, as of recent, too — a lot of people don’t realize a lot of what we go through as a professional athlete.
“We’re doing what we love. We’re trying the best every single day. You know, we’re not perfect. We’re humans. Words hurt. It’s hard to overcome sometimes. … I might not have a huge friend group, but to have the people that matter the most around me have gotten me through some really hard times.”
LPGA star Nelly Korda was among many players who were surprised by Thompson’s announcement.
“She’s had such an amazing career,” Korda said Tuesday. “I’ve gotten to be on the team with her a couple times representing our country. I think she does an amazing job for the Tour. She spends so much time going to each pro-am party. She really dedicated her time to growing the game.
“It’s sad to see that she’s obviously leaving and not going to be out here with us anymore, but she’s had an amazing career, and I wish her the best in this new chapter of her life.”
Thompson came painfully close to adding to her major total, finishing runner-up or third eight times in her 63 major starts. She had 19 top-10 finishes and 35 top 25s, including a tie for second in the 2022 Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
Last season, Thompson became the seventh woman to compete on the PGA Tour at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas. She posted a 2-under 69 in the second round to become the second woman to break 70 in a PGA Tour event. With a 36-hole total of even-par 142, Thompson nearly became the first woman in 80 years to make the cut in a PGA Tour event.
“Lexi’s impact extends far beyond the golf course,” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said in a statement posted to X. “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.
“… On behalf of the LPGA, I want to thank Lexi for her incredible contributions to our Tour and to women’s golf. We wish her all the best in her next chapter, and we, along with the fans, look forward to watching her compete and celebrating her throughout the rest of the season.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsManage Privacy Preferences
© ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Open Round 3 preview: Shane Lowry on top and stars leaving early
play
Tiger on missing cut at The Open: ‘I just wish I was more sharp’ (1:00)
Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Writer
Jul 19, 2024, 06:01 PM ET
Share
LikeLike
Open Extended Reactions
Like
101
TROON, Scotland — Stronger winds and firmer conditions made the second round of the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club on Friday even more treacherous for the world’s best golfers.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Tee times for the third round of The Open
15hESPN Staff
Lowry regroups after lost-ball ruling, leads Open
18hMark Schlabach
So much so that many of the favorites won’t be around for the final 36 holes.
“I need to lie down in a dark room,” England’s Matthew Southgate, who missed the cut after limping through a 7-over 78 on Friday, said. “It’s brutal out there. That’s one of the toughest experiences I’ve had on a golf course. It was crosswinds everywhere and pins on the same side where the wind was coming from. It’s just so, so difficult. It was like survival golf really.”
Local knowledge and links golf experience have improved invaluable so far. For the first time since 1951, the top three golfers on the leaderboard at the halfway point are from the United Kingdom and Ireland. Ireland’s Shane Lowry, with a 36-hole total of 7-under 135, has a 2-shot lead over England’s Justin Rose and Daniel Brown.
Here’s what to watch in the third round of The Open:
Will Lowry hold the lead?
Shane Lowry is in the lead despite some difficult conditions. Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images
Lowry was asked Friday if he considers himself a good front-runner.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a good runner,” Lowry joked.
It’s the fourth 36-hole lead or co-lead of Lowry’s PGA Tour career. He was 1-for-3 in closing out previously, winning the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland and finishing third at the 2019 RBC Heritage and the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.
“For me, it’s just about going out and playing my own game, shooting the best score I can, and then seeing where it leaves me at the end of the day,” Lowry said. “Try not to worry about what other people are doing and just try to take care of your own personal stuff. I don’t know. I put myself there in a few big tournaments, and I’ve managed to knock them off.”
The good news for Lowry: Three of the past four 36-hole leaders or co-leaders at The Open went on to lift the Claret Jug. He did it in 2019, followed by Cameron Smith at St. Andrews in 2022 and Brian Harman at Royal Liverpool last year.
Having grown up in Ireland, Lowry seems better equipped than most to play in the wind and rain. He survived a downpour in the final round of the 2019 Open Championship to run away with a 6-shot victory over Tommy Fleetwood.
“I get to conditions like this, and I know I can do it, I know I can deal with that,” Lowry said. “It’s quite difficult to stand up there from 190 yards and make yourself hit a 4-iron as low as you can. It’s quite difficult to tell yourself that. I feel like the three weeks I’ve had at home, the golf I’ve played in Ireland, coming here, and doing my [research] here a few weeks ago, I feel like that’s all helped.”
Can Scheffler catch Lowry?
Scottie Scheffler could make a run this weekend. Pedro Salado/Getty Images
Lowry doesn’t have to look far down the leaderboard to see that world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler is lurking close to the top again.
At the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida, Scheffler one-putted the final seven greens to tie Lowry for the third-round lead. On that Sunday, Scheffler posted a 6-under 66 to pull away for a 5-shot win over Wyndham Clark. Lowry carded a 72 and was six strokes behind.
“Honestly, I’m not sure Scottie Scheffler is too worried about anyone with the form he’s in,” Lowry said. “He’s obviously on the leaderboard, and he’s one person that people are going to be talking about.”
Scheffler is looking for his seventh victory of the season and second major after winning the Masters for a second time this April. He posted a 1-under 70 on Friday for the second straight round and is five shots behind Lowry.
The Open Championship Odds
TO WIN
Shane Lowry
+180
Scottie Scheffler
+325
Justin Rose
+700
Xander Schauffele
11-1
Patrick Cantlay
18-1
Daniel Brown
20-1
Odds by ESPN BET
Scheffler’s putter seemed to be warming up, too. He had birdie putts of 11½ feet on No. 4, 35½ feet on No. 14 and 5 feet on No. 16. He also had a nice 15-footer to save par on No. 16.
After losing about a half-stroke to the field on the greens on Thursday, he gained about 1½ in the second round.
“I said after yesterday’s round, sometimes it’s a numbers game,” Scheffler said. “Just keep getting the ball up around the hole, and the more I can get it closer to the hole more often, the more putts I’m going to hole. If I’m hitting good putts and they’re going up around the edge, I think it’s almost more likely that I’m going to make more putts here in the future.”
Scheffler came from behind after 36 holes in six of his 11 stroke-play victories in his PGA Tour career, including three when he trailed by six strokes or more: the 2022 WM Phoenix Open, 2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship in March.
“It doesn’t really matter to me what those guys are doing,” Scheffler said. “I’m trying to do my best to hit good shots and put myself in position. Going into the weekend, five shots back, I feel like I’m in a decent position.”
Is Brown going to stick around?
Daniel Brown could join some historic company if he wins this weekend. David Cannon/R&A via Getty Images
Brown, playing in his first major, grabbed a 1-shot lead over Lowry in the first round and did enough to stay near the top of the leaderboard in the second. He made the turn at 2-over 38 but had two birdies and one bogey on the back to stay 2 behind Lowry.
Brown is in rare air. Since 1900, the only players to finish first in their major championship debuts were Francis Ouimet (1913 U.S. Open), Ben Curtis (2003 Open) and Keegan Bradley (2011 PGA Championship).
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Brown is the first golfer since S.K. Ho in 2003 to be inside the top two at The Open through 36 holes while making their major debut. Rose (1998), Gerry Taylor (1987) and Ian Baker-Finch (1984) also did it.
Even while sleeping on the lead, Brown said he got plenty of rest before the second round.
“I managed to get seven or eight hours in,” Brown said. “I was knackered. I don’t think I’ve had a late finish like that in a long time.”
Brown, a DP World Tour regular, knows he’s only halfway there.
“I’ve always been quite laid back really,” Brown said. “I think I am a bit of a realist as well. I know I’m not going to start getting ahead of myself and thinking that, ‘Oh, my God, I’m leading The Open or I’m second in The Open or whatever.’ There’s still 36 holes left. I might have a good round tomorrow, and then I might have a stinky round on Sunday. You just don’t know.”
Stars are going home
It’s another lost opportunity for Rory McIlroy to break his major drought. Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images
Links golf tends to neutralize any distance advantages that the world’s best players might have, especially when the wind is howling, and the greens are firm and fast. That was certainly the case at Royal Troon, where several of the game’s top-ranked golfers were sent packing after 36 holes.
Among those who missed the cut: Will Zalatoris (7 over), Tyrrell Hatton (8 over), Ludvig Åberg (9 over), Fleetwood (9 over), Bryson DeChambeau (9 over), Viktor Hovland (10 over), Tony Finau (10 over), Tom Kim (11 over), Cameron Smith (12 over), Rory McIlroy (11 over), Sahith Theegala (14 over), Tiger Woods (14 over) and Clark (16 over).
After struggling through a 7-over 78 on Thursday, McIlroy didn’t have much room for error. He had a terrible start in the second round with bogeys on Nos. 3, 5 and 6 and a triple-bogey 8 on No. 4. He was 6 over after six holes. He played the final 12 holes at 2 under without a bogey.
“When I look back on the two majors that I didn’t play my best at, here and the Masters, the wind got the better of me on Friday at Augusta, and then the wind got the better of me the last two days here,” McIlroy said.
“I didn’t adapt well at all to that left-to-right wind yesterday on the back nine, and then this afternoon going out in that gusty wind on the front, as I said, it got the better of me, and I felt pretty uncomfortable over a few shots.”
McIlroy tied for 12th at the PGA Championship and was solo second at the U.S. Open, but it still seems like a lost majors season. He’ll take a more than 10-year drought in majors into the 2025 Masters.
McIlroy will compete in the Olympics in Paris in a couple of weeks and he’s in contention for a FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour and a Race to Dubai title on the DP World Tour.
“I feel like I say this every Open Championship, but it’s not as if we only play four events a year,” he said. “We play like 25, so there’s still a few things left to play for. Obviously, the majors have come and gone, but to sort of refocus and try to reset for the Olympics, which will be another cool experience, and try to play well there. I’m in contention to try to win both titles on either side of the Atlantic, so still some things to play for until the end of the year.”
DeChambeau is the second golfer in the past 10 years to miss the cut at The Open after winning the U.S. Open in the same year (Gary Woodland, 2019).
Weather forecast improving
The weather at Royal Troon is often a factor. Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images
The weather in Scotland is unpredictable, and that was the case again this week. The Met Office’s forecast for the weekend calls for a wet Saturday and mostly dry Sunday. It’s expected to be a clear morning Saturday, followed by heavier and more persistent rain in the late afternoon. Winds from the south to southwest at 7-10 mph with gusts of 12-15 mph are expected.
There’s high confidence for a “drier, brighter day” on Sunday. Winds are expected to be south-westerly from 7 to 10 mph with gusts of 11-14 mph. High temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60s.
Race for the Silver Medal
Calum Scott has been performing like a pro this week. Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images
Four amateurs made the 36-hole cut and will battle in the final two rounds for the Silver Medal. Scotland’s Calum Scott, who plays at Texas Tech, leads the way at 4 over.
“I feel like in a way I have overachieved, but at the same time I was just wanting to see where my game was compared to,” Scott said. “Obviously, the best there is, and obviously this field is one of the best in the world, a major on a golf course set up like a major. With the Scottish weather conditions, it’s even more like a major.”
Jacob Skov Olesen, who in June became the first Dane to win the British Amateur, is one shot back. The former TCU and Arkansas golfer carded a bogey-free 71 on Friday. He’ll also get to play in the Masters and U.S. Open next season if he remains an amateur.
Spain’s Luis Masaveu, who survived a 36-hole final qualifier playing with old clubs because his new ones were lost, and University of Texas golfer Tommy Morrison were on the cut line at 6 over. Morrison, 6 feet, 9 inches, became the first American winner of the European Amateur Championship on June 29.
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsManage Privacy Preferences
© ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rory McIlroy to regroup after missing Open cut, eyes new goals
play
Rory McIlroy reflects on a poor Open Championship (1:17)
Associated Press
Jul 20, 2024, 07:57 AM ET
Share
LikeLike
Open Extended Reactions
Like
20
TROON, Scotland — Rory McIlroy had plenty of time to accept that a 10th straight year would pass without him winning a major. He now has to wait 265 days for the next one, when he hears the starter at Augusta National say, “Fore, please. Rory McIlroy driving.”
The realization came on the fourth hole of the second round. He needed a good start to make the cut, maybe get back into the Open Championship. What he got was a triple bogey.
“Twenty-two holes into the event and I’m thinking about where I’m going to go on vacation next week,” McIlroy said after rounds of 78-75 to miss the cut by five shots.
Whatever he had in mind for vacation, his next thought was how to salvage another season that will not
