Tears rolled down Lexi Thompson’s cheek earlier than she might full her last gap Sunday. In fact, this was extra than simply the top to an occasion – it was the conclusion to her full-time profession.
Thompson gathered herself and made a 2 ½-footer for par. She then hugged her fellow rivals and her caddie, brother Nick, earlier than being greeted with flowers and steady applause.
“It was very emotional,” mentioned Thompson, who shot 74 with a front-nine end. “Actually wasn’t till I obtained to No. 9 for some motive. Form of all hit me.”
Thompson introduced in late Could, forward of the U.S. Ladies’s Open, that she was retiring as a full-time LPGA participant. Six months later, the emotional actuality hit her.
“I’ve held rather a lot in,” Thompson mentioned, not simply of current months, however in relation to her profession. “I believe as athletes you’re at all times informed to be sturdy and be intimidating on the golf course. Don’t present any signal the weak point.
“I did it for some time, and it’s simply, you recognize, it’s gotten to me typically. It’s laborious. It’s not simply me, it’s everyone that goes by quite a lot of issues. It’s only a matter of how a lot you’re prepared to carry in and let individuals in in your feelings. It’s type of just like the time I’m really letting myself really feel these feelings and really be actual.”
Most of the followers at Tiburon Golf Membership in Naples, Florida, have been across the age Thompson was when she first made a reputation for herself. Alexis, earlier than she was simply Lexi, certified for the 2007 U.S. Ladies’s Open at age 12 and joined the skilled ranks three years later.
Thompson’s tour profession was certainly one of excessive highs and lows. She received 11 LPGA occasions, together with the 2014 Chevron Championship (then often called the Kraft Nabisco), and was a seven-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup workforce.
There have been additionally main mishaps just like the 2017 Chevron (then often called the ANA Inspiration), the place she was penalized 4 strokes for incorrectly changing her ball within the third spherical and subsequently misplaced in a playoff. There was additionally the 2021 U.S. Ladies’s Open, the place she led by 5 strokes with 9 holes to play however got here dwelling in 41 and missed a playoff by one.
There have been different moments the place Thompson was vocal in regards to the depth of the highlight and instances the place she took depart from social media.
Thompson, now 29, will probably be remembered for all of it, but when one factor stands out above all else, it’s how beloved she was by followers, and the way it was reciprocated.
“It means extra to me than something. In fact, the wins, you recognize, obtained me to what I’m, the accomplishments and all the pieces, however I wished to depart a much bigger influence as a task mannequin, someone who gave again to the sport, someone who made an influence on little women and boys out right here getting began within the recreation at a younger age,” Thompson mentioned.
As for what’s subsequent, Thompson hasn’t been particular. However she’s not performed taking part in competitively.
In actual fact, she’ll be again at Tiburon in just a few weeks to compete alongside accomplice Rickie Fowler on the mixed-gender Grant Thornton Invitational.
“I’ll take just a few days off due to Thanksgiving and simply to close it down just a little bit and provides my thoughts a reset,” she mentioned.
“I’m positive I’ll be proper again into it on the finish of this week and going into subsequent week simply attempting to prepare for Grant Thornton.”
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