Lexi Thompson, 29, cancels stunning retirement plans

What started 17 years ago — when she debuted as a 12-year-old phenom at the U.S. Women’s Open — has reached a full-circle moment for Lexi Thompson. On Tuesday at this week’s U.S. Women’s Open, Thompson announced her intentions to retire at the end of this season.

Thompson, now 29, has fittingly never missed a U.S. Women’s Open start between then and now, but she will hang up her cleats when her 14th LPGA season finishes in November. She is scheduled to conduct a press conference Tuesday afternoon from Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pa., but posted a video to Instagram of a letter she wrote to the sport.

“Golf — what can I say after all these years,” it begins. “You have played such an important role for the majority of my life. You welcomed me into your world at such a young age, and for that I am forever grateful.”

To all the girls that have cheered for me, you have been my inspiration, my encouragement and my strength,” she said. “On the days that were tough, and I wanted to give up, your support motivated me to dig deep and keep competing.”

The decision comes as a bit of a surprise given Thompson is still nine months shy of her 30th birthday, but her form has been trending in the wrong direction for much of the last year. Having spent most of her career in the top 30, she currently ranks 54th in the world and has gone nearly five years without a victory.