Lexi Thompson announces retirement from golf
5/28/2024 | by Amit Pandey of AmateurGolf.com
The 29-year-old had an impressive amateur career, spanning from her first U.S. Women's Open at age 11 and playing in a Curtis Cup
29-year-old Lexi Thompson, an 11-time winner of the LPGA, including the Chevron Championship in 2014 (previously known as the Dinah Shore), today announced her retirement from professional golf after the 2024 LPGA season.
This week, Lexi will make her impressive 18th appearance at the U.S. Women’s Open. Her journey in the major began in 2007, when, at the tender age of 12, she secured her spot, making history as the youngest qualifier ever for this major event.
Although Lexi never won the said major, the memories will remain with her forever, given it was the first major she qualified for and which also gave her a sense of determination to turn pro.
Lexi started playing golf when she was 5 and participated in competitive events from the age of 7. She turned pro in 2010, at 15, which also shows her fast growth in the golfing world.
Let’s look at her amateur career to understand the backstory on how she grew on to become a fearless, long hitter on the LPGA.
Lexi Thompson won the U.S. Kids World Championships back-to-back in 2003 and 2004 in Girls 8 & under and Girls 9 categories.
In 2007, Thompson won the Aldila Junior Classic to become the second youngest winner on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and added another victory at the Westfield Junior PGA Championship to become the youngest winner in the Junior PGA Championship.
In 2008, Lexi went on to win the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship after defeating Karen Chung by 5 & 4 and qualified for her second consecutive U.S. Women’s Open. She was named to the Junior Ryder Cup team, which registered a dominating win by 22-2 at the Club at Olde Stone in Kentucky.
In 2009, at 14, she qualified for her third U.S. Women’s Open, made the cut for the first time and finished tied-34th at 11-over par. Later she won the 2009 Verizon Junior Heritage after a sudden-death playoff with Laetitia Beck.
Soon, she was picked for the Junior Solheim Cup team, which won by 15 ½ - 8 ½ against Europe at Aurora Country Club in Illinois.
In 2010, she represented the USA in the Curtis Cup, where she remained undefeated individually and helped her team win with 12 ½-7 ½ points against Great Britain and Ireland and turned pro the next week.
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Luke Ringkamp Cruises to Rolex Tournament of Champions Title at TPC San Antonio
Nov 26, 2025One week after committing to Pepperdine, Luke Ringkamp won the Rolex Tournament of Champions by nine shots.
Inside Gil Hanse’s Restoration of Baltusrol’s Upper Course: A Return to Tillinghast’s
Dec 11, 2025Renowned architect Gil Hanse reveals how he brought Baltusrol’s Upper Course back to life by honoring A.W. Tillinghast’s originalLoading latest news...