Lexi Thompson shockingly unveils retirement plan at U.S. Women’s Open

At just 29 years old, Lexi Thompson, one of the faces of the LPGA Tour, will call it quits after the 2024 golf season.

Set to make her 18th appearance at the U.S. Women’s Open this week at Lancaster Country Club, Thompson will address the media at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday to detail her decision.

She first qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open in 2007 at the age of 12, the youngest ever at the time. Thompson has competed in every iteration since then, with her best finish coming in 2019, finishing in a tie for second at the Country Club of Charleston.

Thompson quickly rose to notoriety soon after that, turning professional in 2010. She then made her LPGA debut in 2011 and went on to win 11 times, including the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship—her only major title to date.

That year, her win at Mission Hills made her the second youngest major champion in women’s golf history.

Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images

But in the years since, Thompson often felt uncomfortable in the limelight. In 2018, she took a month off, citing a need for a break. She also admitted to not feeling like herself at that juncture. And yet, a few months later, Thompson triumphed in the CME Group Tour Championship.

She only won once more after that, the 2019 Shoprite LPGA Classic in Atlantic City.

Two years later, Thompson looked like she would enter the winner’s circle once again, as she held a five-shot lead going into the final nine holes of the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open. But a double-bogey on The Olympic Club’s 11th hole began her downfall, as she shot a 5-over 41 coming in to miss a playoff by a stroke.

Since then, Thompson has recorded 15 top-10 finishes, which includes five runner-up finishes. She also made her PGA Tour debut last fall at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas but narrowly missed the cut. Thomspon also competed in The Match in February, alongside Rose Zhang, Max Homa, and Rory McIlroy.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.