Lexi Thompson retires at age 29: 11-time LPGA Tour champion decides to retire at the end of the 2024 season
11-time LPGA Tour champion Lexi Thompson has decided to retire before turning 30. The 29-year-old star turned professional at 15 and became the youngest woman to win an LPGA tournament at 16 , will end his playing career at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Thompson missed the cut in three tournaments before her announcement and four of six tournaments this season. She also finished T3 at the Ford Championship and T16 at the LPGA Drive On Championship.
“I don’t know if I’m thinking about all 17 [U.S. Opens], but yeah, reflection,” Thompson said before this week’s US Women’s Open. “I’m out here, this is my 14th year full-time. Golf has been my life since I was 5 years old, tournaments when I was 7 years old. I don’t really know much about a different life, but it’s a wonderful life. This sport has taught me so much and I have learned so much along the way, building so many friendships and relationships. I’m looking forward to what life has in store.”
Despite her early success, Thompson hasn’t won an LPGA event since 2019. She notched two wins on the Ladies European Tour during that span but hasn’t won there since. 2022. Thompson has missed the cut in five of the last six majors she has played in after placing in the top 10 in six previous such tournaments.
Thompson was a phenomenon in her youth, becoming the youngest golfer ever to qualify for the US Open in 2017 at age 12. She was also the second youngest woman to win a major on the winning tour. won the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship (now Chevron Championship) at age 19.
In 2023, Thompson became the seventh woman to compete on the men’s PGA Tour when she participated in the Shriners Children’s Open, although she ultimately missed the cut by two strokes.
“I’m taking it day by day,” Thompson said. “I won’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ about how many events I will participate in or whether I will participate or not. I’ll take it day by day and see how I feel, especially going into next year. But I’m very pleased that this is my last full-time year.”
