Star Women’s Pro Golfer Announces Sudden Retirement at Age 29
Women’s professional golfer Lexi Thompson announced suddenly on Tuesday that this will be her final season competing with the LPGA Tour, and that she plans to retire at the end of 2024.
The 29-year-old became the youngest golfer ever to qualify to play in the U.S. Women’s Open in 2007 when she was just 12 years old (her record has since been broken by Lucy Li in 2014, who was 11 at the time), so even at her age, she’s been playing pro for over 15 years now. In a video letter posted to Instagram, Thompson expressed her gratitude to the sport of golf, but admitted the toll being in the public eye had been taking on her mental health.
“I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life,” she says in the video. 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 elaborated on her decision during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the U.S. Women’s Open at the Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania on Thursday.
“It can be lonely… I just think a lot of people don’t realize what we go through as a professional athlete,” Thompson said, per the New York Post. “I’ll be the last one to say throw me a pity party, that’s not what I want. We are doing what we love, trying our best every single day, we are not perfect, we’re humans, words hurt.
“It’s hard to overcome sometimes but having the people around you that love you and support you, I feel like that’s been the biggest thing for me,” she continued. “I may not have a huge friend group, but to have the people that matter the most around me has gotten me through some real hard times.
“It’s a lot for everybody out here or any professional sport,” Thompson added. “I think we deserve a lot more credit than we get.”
In the wake of her announcement, Thompson received support from peers and colleagues. Paige Spiranac, who famously left the sport for similar reasons after playing pro for just one year, gushed that she was going to miss watching her play but was excited to see what she would do next.
Lexi is about to compete in her 18th US Open at 29 years old. Let that sink in. Although she might seem young to retire, Lexi has been playing this game at a high level for a very long time. I’ll miss watching her play but excited to see what she will do next! https://t.co/ZBcZXqP4Ui
— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) May 28, 2024
Sports Illustrated golf writer Alan Shipnuck likewise expressed that he understood Thompson’s decision. “She has always had a complicated relationship with stardom; can’t think of another top player for whom the game seemed like such a burden,” he wrote. “She’s gonna love retirement.”
Lexi Thompson, 29, to retire at the end of this season. She has always had a complicated relationship with stardom; can’t think of another top player for whom the game seemed like such a burden. She’s gonna love retirement.
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) May 28, 2024
Over the course of her career, Thompson has had 11 LPGA Tour wins, including one major victory at the Chevron Championship in 2014.
