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One-time major champion Lexi Thompson announced Tuesday that the 2024 season will be her final one on the LPGA Tour as a full-time golfer.
Thompson made the announcement in a video posted on her Instagram (h/t ESPN’s Mark Schlabach), and noted her excitement to spend more time with friends and family:
“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. 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.”
Thompson, 29, has won 15 tournaments in her career, including the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship, which is her only major title to date.
For much of the early part of her career, Thompson was considered a prodigy. At the time, she was the youngest golfer to ever qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open when she did so at 12 in 2007, and she later turned pro at 15 in 2010.
Thompson also became the youngest golfer to win an LPGA tournament at the age of 16 in 2011, which was a record surpassed by Lydia Ko one year later.
In addition to her 15 career wins and one major title, Thompson finished second or third at a major on eight occasions.
While Thompson enjoyed a great deal of success during her career, she also went through her fair share of struggles, and she mentioned some of the difficulties of being thrust into the spotlight at a young age in her video:
“Although this has been an amazing journey, it hasn’t always been an easy one. 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 took about a month off from the LPGA Tour in 2018, citing a need to “recharge her batteries.”
She last won an LPGA tournament in 2019 when she was victorious in the ShopRite LPGA Classic, although Thompson was more recently victorious in the Ladies European Tour, as she won the 2022 Aramco Team Series in New York.
Thompson has struggled through a hand injury this season. She is currently 64th in the LPGA points standings.
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