Nelly Korda and Other Pro Golfers React to Lexi Thompson’s Shocking Retirement

Earning her 18th consecutive start in the U.S. Women’s Open at the age of just 29 is an impressive feat, and Lexi Thompson has achieved it. However, this will be Thompson’s last appearance at the highly coveted event. Yes, you heard it right! The 11-time LPGA Tour winner officially announced her retirement. The ongoing season is her last season of professional golf. The announcement is highly unexpected, but it makes sense too as Thomspon has been having trouble with her wrist. Last year, she confessed to “overdoing” things, and she also shared that after the 2024 Chevron Championship, “Not being 100% healthy is never fun to deal with physically or mentally.”

The US Women’s Open might have seemed like the perfect choice to make such a heartfelt announcement. Back in 2007, Thompson made history by qualifying for the tournament at the age of 12, becoming the youngest-ever qualifier. This was just the beginning of her beautiful journey. In addition, in 2008, the professional won the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Subsequently, in 2009, she made the cut in the U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 14 and achieved a 4-0-1 record for the United States in the 2010 Curtis Cup.

She began her professional career at the age of 16 and won the Navistar LPGA Classic in September 2011, marking her first Tour win. It wasn’t until 2014 that she secured her only major victory at the Chevron Championship. Despite having only one major title, her 16 top-10 finishes in majors, including a close call at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open, where she finished T2, underscore her incredible talent as a golfer.

Thompson posted a video on her Instagram, reflecting on her journey with golf thus far and captioning it “Thankful Have a listen to the letter I wrote to the game of golf.” She highlighted how golf has been important in her life, teaching her “resilience, patience, and the power of perseverance.”

She also discussed the ups and downs of her journey and how social media can bring both fame and criticism. She concluded the video by expressing gratitude for all her experiences. Following her message, fans, brands, and fellow professionals shared their messages with the golfer.

While her last LPGA Tour victory was in June 2019, she also made history at the PGA Tour event Shriners Children’s Open in 2023. During the second round, she drove to the 15th hole and carded a 69, becoming only the second woman ever to break 70 in a PGA Tour event. With all these accomplishments, she has left an indelible mark on the golf world, prompting other pros to flood social media with heartfelt messages.