Ahead of the 79th edition of the US Women’s Open, which is being held this week in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, American golfer Lexi Thompson has surprised everyone by announcing that she will retire from golf at the end of the season, at the age of 29. Or at least, she will stop competing full time. A decision she has thought about a lot, which she later detailed in an extensive press conference where she addressed all kinds of questions on the matter.
To begin with, she did not hesitate to recall that, despite her youth, this week’s tournament is her 18th US Women’s Open. She became the youngest golfer to compete in the tournament in 2007, at the age of 12, and has never missed the event since: “It’s amazing to be here this week. Reflecting, this is my 18th US Women’s Open, at the age of 29, it’s amazing because this tournament is where my whole career started, I always say it. In 2007, at Pine Needles, when I started playing, I realised that I wanted to play against the best. It’s been an incredible journey. I’ve loved everything. So being able to play my particular 18th hole is amazing”.
Next, Lexi tried to explain the reasons why she has made this drastic decision.
Her motivation in recent years and what she expects now: “I would say that what has motivated me have been a couple of things: that golf is such an incredibly challenging sport that can never be perfected, growing up with two older brothers, playing against them, I’ve always wanted to beat them. That’s the driving force to get out there every day and improve on the challenges I was facing; and what has pushed me the most and given me the most have been the fans. Seeing girls and boys cheering me on, even today, there were so many people out there… That warms my heart. That makes the game. It makes me want to go out and play. They have pushed me a lot, and I love each and every one of the fans”.
Her reflection after the announcement and her previous US Women’s Opens: “I don’t know if I’m thinking about the other 17, but yes, reflecting. I’ve been here, this is my 14th year full time. Golf has been my life since I was 5 years old, tournaments at 7. I haven’t known a very different life, but it’s been amazing. This sport has taught me a lot, and I’ve learned a lot along the way, I’ve built many friendships and relationships. I’m looking forward to seeing what life has in store for me”.
When did she know it was time? “As I said, it’s my 14th year. I’m not going to sit here and say that it hasn’t crossed my mind in recent years, but I feel that I’m at a point in my life where it’s time to step away from a full-time schedule. There’s more to life than going to a tournament every week and doing the same training every day. There’s so much more, and I’m looking forward to experiencing it. I think I’m very happy with my life and where this decision will take me. Yes, I’m looking forward to seeing what life has in store for me apart from golf”.
Did her hand injury influence her decision? “No, I would say no, I haven’t been playing the golf I was hoping for, but my hand has been incredibly better. I’ve really been able to go out and make my swing without pain, which is always nice. It’s been a great feeling. I wouldn’t say that has anything to do with it. Of course, the results haven’t been what I wanted. It’s just the time of my life”.
Does she plan to play sporadically in some tournaments? “Yes, right now I take it day by day. I’m not going to say yes or no about how many events I’m going to play or if I do. I’ll take it day by day and see how I feel, especially looking ahead to next year. But I’m very happy that this is my last year full time”.
What is she proud to have overcome? “That’s a great question. I think, honestly, of having stayed true to myself. Being out here can be a lot. It can be lonely. I’m sorry if I get emotional. I said I wasn’t going to do it (cries). I just think that, especially with what’s been going on in golf, in recent times too, a lot of people don’t realise a lot of what we go through as professional athletes. I’ll be the last to say I feel sorry for myself. That’s the last thing I want. We’re doing what we love. But you know, we’re not perfect. We’re human. Words hurt. Sometimes it’s hard to get over it. But having people around you who love you and support you has been the most important thing for me. I may not have a big group of friends, but having the people who matter most to me around me has helped me get through some very tough times. I think it’s a lot for everyone here or in any professional sport. A lot of people don’t know what we go through. The amount of training and hard work we put in, it’s a lot. I don’t think we deserve… I think we deserve a lot more credit than we get”.
Has she thought about what her life will be like without golf? “Of course I’ve thought about it. I love fitness. I hope to have my Lexi Fitness app up and running very soon. And just enjoy life. Family is very important to me, so I hope to have a family someday. And enjoy every experience and be present in every moment. That’s the most important thing to me. I’ve only known golf in my life. So it’s nice to diversify and be able to enjoy other things”.
In 2007, at her first US Women’s Open, could she have imagined getting here? “God, at my first US Women’s Open? No, I wasn’t… Well, I was trying to get over the shaking there from being so nervous. It’s been a blessing. Everything has exceeded my expectations of my career and the relationships I’ve built. I feel very blessed and grateful for each and every person and experiences I’ve lived throughout my career”.
When else did she think about retiring? “To be honest, probably in recent years, because it’s been a long journey. I don’t think many people realise that I’ve been here since I was 15. I’ve only known professional golf life and junior golf, amateur golf, being on the road. I’ve thought about it in recent years, but it was never the right time for me. Now I find myself at the point where I am and I want to achieve my goals for the rest of the year”.
What goals does she hope to achieve? “First of all, to be on the Solheim Cup team. It’s a great honour to represent my country and play with the team and my captain. In every tournament I play, I want to win. No matter what position I’m in, I want to win and just enjoy the journey and keep seeing the improvements. I’ve been working very hard on my game, so seeing the continuous improvements, I hope, is very important to me”.
Did mental health influence her decision? “I think mental health is very important, not just for athletes but for everyone. We all have our own struggles. That’s what I always say. Don’t judge anyone because you don’t know what they’re going through and what they have in their mind and in their heart and be kind to them. I think we all have our own struggles, especially here. Unfortunately, in golf you lose more than you win, so it’s a constant battle to keep putting yourself in front of the cameras and keep working hard and maybe not see the results you want and be criticised for it. So it’s tough. I will say yes, I’ve struggled with it. I don’t think there’s anyone here who hasn’t. It’s just a matter of how well you hide it, which is very sad. It’s important to face it and be okay with seeking help and support and surround yourself with people who support you and love you, because there are always people who care a lot about you and will help you get through those tough times”.
When did she know she would announce her decision today? “I’ve been thinking about it for a few months. It’s just a matter of time and place. As I said before, this is where my whole career started. This is where the dream of playing on the LPGA tour and being here and playing professional golf and playing against the best started. I just thought the right thing to do was to do it here”.
15 years ago, when she started full time, who did she admire? “I would say the player that… I mean, she was playing when I was playing, but Nancy López has always been an idol for me. Obviously, what she’s done on the golf course has been amazing and something to admire, but to this day, the way she is with fans, sponsors, doing all the possible outings at a tournament, she just doesn’t stop. She just shows her love for the game, her love for people and the way to give back to the game. I think the world needs more people like that. I’ve always admired her for being like her and following in her footsteps”.
Why does she think so many girls admire her? “Do they admire me? Well, I’d like to think it’s because of the way I contribute to golf, to fans and sponsors. I sign all the autographs, even if I have tears in my eyes after bad days. Like, the fans are what make the game. They made a hole in their lives to come and support us, even if we shoot 78. Hearing a little girl after a 78 saying, you did great today. I mean, that melts your heart every time. It makes my day to see those kids out there, and I hope I’ve influenced them in some way, and I hope to continue doing so”.
She signed autographs after a tough loss at the ANA: “It was a big moment in my career, not a great one. I see it as I grew a fan base that I never thought I would have at that time. It’s an unfortunate circumstance, but being there and hearing the chants of my name on the 17th down the stretch and being able to sign all the autographs and go through that moment, it was like… the toughest moment of my career was like a blessing because I learned a lot and gained fans that I never thought I would have. Yes, I’m not going to sit here and say that moment didn’t hurt, it still hurts, but it’s part of a career”.
And when did she start considering it a blessing? “It took me a while. It was painful for some time, but I took it as a learning experience. Of course, it’s not how I wanted the tournament to go. I went there, and it’s not how I had planned that last day, but seeing those fans and hearing them, that tournament was my favourite on the calendar. As I said, the fans make my day and they make the game. There’s nothing like seeing them, hearing them and signing autographs”.
