Lexi Thompson couldn’t hold back the tears as she approached her final hole as a full-time LPGA player. After 19 years in the spotlight, it was all coming to an end.
The 29-year-old golf prodigy, who burst onto the scene at just 12 years old, sank her last putt – a simple 2½-footer for par. Her brother Nick, who’s been by her side as her caddie, wrapped her in an emotional hug as fans showered her with flowers and applause.
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“It was very emotional,” Thompson said, her voice cracking. “Really wasn’t until I got to No. 9 for some reason. Kind of all hit me.”
She’s been a fixture in American golf since qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open as a pre-teen in 2007. Back then, she was still Alexis – before becoming just Lexi to fans worldwide.
Her career has been quite a ride.
Thompson racked up 11 LPGA wins, including a major championship at the 2014 Chevron Championship. She’s also been a Team USA stalwart, representing her country seven times in the Solheim Cup.
But it hasn’t all been victories and celebrations.
There was that heartbreaking moment in 2017 when she lost a major championship after getting hit with a four-stroke penalty for incorrectly marking her ball. And who could forget the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, where a five-shot lead vanished in the final nine holes?
Even her farewell round at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, had its ups and downs – a quad bogey mixed with four birdies pretty much summed up her career’s rollercoaster nature.
“I’ve held a lot in,” Thompson admitted. “As athletes, you’re always told to be strong and intimidating on the golf course. Don’t show any sign of weakness.”
The fans at Tiburon – many young girls the same age she was when she started – showed just how much she’s meant to the game. That impact means more to her than any trophy.
“Of course, the wins got me to what I am,” she said. “But I wanted to leave a bigger impact as a role model, somebody who gave back to the game.”
This isn’t completely goodbye, though. Thompson will be back at Tiburon in a few weeks, teaming up with Rickie Fowler at the Grant Thornton Invitational mixed-gender event.
First, she’s taking a well-deserved break for Thanksgiving. After that? The competitive fire still burns.
“I’m sure I’ll be right back into it at the end of this week,” she said with a smile.