[LPGA] Handcuffs Some of These Girls’: Lexi Thompson’s Hardships Confirmed by Former Caddie

It can be exhausting to maintain a smile,” Lexi Thompson had said in May last year, as she announced a heartbreaking news. Ending a 14-year long career wasn’t easy, but it was needed. But as we move closer and closer toward scrutinizing what must have gone down in Thompson’s life, eye-opening secrets start spilling over, as was evident from her caddie Colton Heisey’s latest revelations…

Despite paving the way by qualifying as the youngest player for the U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 12, and becoming a darling among fans due to her aggressive style—which earned her 11 LPGA titles, a major victory, and numerous Solheim Cup confrontations—the last few years have been tough. Injuries, form issues, a continuous battle with mental health, ultimately led to her drastic decision to bow out. And looks like there was also another problem that prevented Thompson from making as much impact as she could have.

According to Colton Heisey, the LPGA’s course layouts may be one thing preventing players like Lexi from succeeding. Power hitters don’t usually have the opportunity to show off their skills in shorter, more accurate layouts, perhaps restricting the greatest talents on the tour.

During an insightful conversation on The Scratch Golf Show on February 27, Heisey—a seasoned PGA Tour caddie who trained Thompson during the 2023 season—elaborated on the same. He stated, “When [Lexi] kind of announced her retirement, that was…when we went our separate ways and she brought some family back out of the bag. But, yeah, the LPGA tour is different. I mean, there’s obviously a lot more emotions and the golf courses…it’s weird, too, because…some of the girls who hit it really far, they kind of get penalized on the LPGA tour.”

“Because, the tour has to set it up for the girls who don’t hit it that far, right? So, it kind of handcuffs some of these girls who do kind of bomb-it, which is just kind of the opposite of the men’s tour. A lot of the courses, the further you hit it…obviously…the better…On the LPGA Tour, like in the Majors, you see all of the girls, [those who hit] far…they’re the only ones that even have a chance,” he concluded. Notably, Thompson has been ranked inside the Top-10 for driving distance on the LPGA Tour ever year since 2012, with an average of over 270 yards.

Thompson’s 2023 season was a struggle with consistent form, leading to mixed results. Heisey thought back on this time, saying that although they had a “nice finish of the year,” with “five top 10s,” the season was tainted by setbacks and a hand ailment that made the year more difficult. Given her powerful swing, where clubface control is crucial, the injury proved especially costly. According to Heisey, “With her golf swing, clubface control is a huge thing… and so when that happened, obviously retirement was in the cards.” Notwithstanding, Thompson was adamant about competing in the Solheim Cup, balancing her need to stay healthy and her desire to do so.