Ally Ewing’s surprise retirement news on Wednesday is just the latest in a long list of players who have made similar announcements this year.
“It is with a heavy but grateful heart, that I want to announce that I’ll be retiring from professional golf at the end of this year,” McDonald said in a poignant video on Instagram. “When I envisioned my career, I never dreamed this small-town Mississippi girl could have had the career that God has blessed me with.”
While some on this list haven’t played full time in a long time, Ewing is ranked 18th in the world and hot off a strong stretch at the majors.
Here’s a list of players who formally announced their decisions to step away from full-time golf on the LPGA in 2024:
Catriona Matthew
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew poses on the Swilkan Bridge during her second round on day two of the 2024 Women’s British Open Golf Championship, on the Old Course at St Andrews, in St Andrews, Scotland, on August 23, 2024. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
The most decorated Scot to ever play the LPGA said goodbye at the Old Course in her 30th and final appearance at the AIG Women’s British Open. The winningest Scot in tour history won four times on the LPGA and posted 104 top-10 finishes. She also led Europe to two stunning victories in the Solheim Cup and did the same for Great Britain and Ireland at the Curtis Cup over the summer.
Matthew’s most incredible feat as a professional, however, was winning the Women’s British Open 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child.
While the AIG was her final LPGA appearance, the “superman” will continue to play some senior golf.
So Yeon Ryu
So Yeon Ryu of South Korea lines up a putt on the 13th green during the first round of The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods on April 18, 2024 in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
South Korea’s Ryu, 34, played her final event on the LPGA at the Chevron Championship, an event she won in 2017. The two-time major champion spent 19 weeks as Word No. 1, which she believes to be her biggest accomplishment. Ryu didn’t realize how much she missed living in South Korea until a global pandemic forced her to move back home for nine months and she thought: This is a real life.
“I never knew it,” she said. “I never knew I could have that kind of stable life.”
Angela Stanford
Assistant Captain of the United States team Angela Stanford prior to the Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on September 12, 2024 in Gainesville, Virginia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Stanford kicked off 2024 with a big goal: Become the first woman to make it to 100 consecutive major championship appearances. She came up short, failing to make it past 98 when she didn’t qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, and the USGA opted not to give her a special exemption. The 46-year-old, who has won seven times on the LPGA, including a major, will finish up her final season later this year. She joined the tour in 2001.
Mariajo Uribe
2024 Olympics
Mariajo Uribe of Colombia tees off on No. 1 in the third round of women’s individual stroke play during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Le Golf National. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports
Uribe set a goal of making it to the Paris Olympics and played on the LET to get there. The Colombian made the decision that Paris would be her final event, and she flirted with winning a medal in the process.
Though the 34-year-old was in the field for the next week’s event at St. Andrews, a major, Uribe didn’t tee it up. It was back to Colombia to focus on being a stay-at-home mom.
“I’m not in a rush to find another career,” she said.
Laura Davies
Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, Dame Laura Davies of England, Catriona Matthew of Scotland and Karrie Webb of Australia pose for a photo on the Swilcan bridge ahead of the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews Old Course on August 21, 2024 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Dame Laura Davies was slated to make her final LPGA appearance at the Old Course in August, but the World Golf Hall of Famer didn’t think her game was up for the task and opted not to compete. The 60-year-old had teed it up in the past 43 consecutive British Opens.
“I just don’t think I’m good enough anymore,” she explained. “It would’ve been lovely, don’t get me wrong. … I wish I could’ve just stood up and said I’ll give it a go, I don’t care how bad I am. But I do care. That’s the trouble.”
Davies won 20 times on the LPGA and more the 80 times worldwide. Though fans were denied the historic farewell, Davies will continue to compete on the senior circuit.
I.K. Kim
In-Kyung Kim of Korea poses with the trophy following her victory during the final round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns Golf Links on August 6, 2017 in Kingsbarns, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
After 18 years of professional golf, 36-year-old I.K. Kim announced her retirement after playing one last round over the Old Course at the AIG Women’s British Open. Kim told good friend R&A Chief Martin Slumbers after the round. She’d told her parents, coaches and best friend the night before.
Media officials convinced her to come back hours after her round had concluded to talk about a career that included seven victories, including a major, and one of the most painful short misses in the game’s history at the 2012 ANA Inspiration.
“I’m most proud of the hard work that I’ve put into,” said Kim. “I wasn’t the most talented or the most gifted, but I loved the game. I was willing to travel anywhere to play golf and learn the game, and I wanted to thank all the girls here. I’ve learned so much from them.”
Amy Olson
Gainbridge LPGA – Round Two
Amy Olson of the United States smiles as she walks from the ninth tee during the second round of the Gainnbridge LPGA at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club on February 26, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Olson, 32, told husband Grant when they were dating that she planned to play on tour for 10 years and then wanted to focus on family. In April, Olson announced that she wouldn’t be coming back from maternity leave.
“I knew that once I had kids I wanted to be home,” Olson told Golfweek. “That was a huge desire of my heart.
Lexi Thompson
2024 Solheim Cup
Lexi Thompson of Team USA reacts prior to the Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on September 11, 2024 in Gainesville, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
One of the most popular players on tour for more than a decade, Thompson announced earlier this year at the U.S. Women’s Open that 2024 would be her last full time season on tour. What that means going forward is unclear, but golf fans will see a lot less of the 11-time tour winner after this season. Thompson, 29, won for the first time on the LPGA at age 16.
Ally Ewing
Sep 15, 2024; Gainesville, Virginia, USA; Ally Ewing of Team USA poses for a photo with the trophy after defeating Team Europe at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
In the midst of some of the best golf of her career, 31-year-old Ewing has decided this season will be her last. The three-time tour winner said the highlights of her career have been representing the U.S. at the Solheim Cup, which she did just two weeks ago in Virginia.
Gerina Mendoza
Gerina Piller plays her shot from the ninth tee during the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
In July, Mendoza posted on Instagram that she was stepping away from playing full time on the LPGA. The 39-year-old got married last fall and also announced that she was due to give birth to a second child in October.
While Mendoza never won on the LPGA, the strong ball-striker represented the U.S. three times in the Solheim Cup.
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