Nelly Korda reacts as Lexi Thompson announces she’ll retire at the end of the season

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Nelly Korda has shared her immediate reaction to the news this week that Lexi Thompson will retire from professional golf at the end of the season.

Lexi Thompson has had a turbulent career, winning a major title back in 2014 and reaching the number two spot in the world rankings at the time.

Had anyone been told that that Chevron Championship would be her only major title for at least a decade, they may not have believed you, but the 29-year-old has indeed not been able to get across the line in one of the sport’s five biggest events again.

Thompson now has four more chances, it seems, with the Florida native announcing on Tuesday that she will be retiring from professional golf at the end of the season.

Nelly Korda reacts as Lexi Thompson announces retirement

As reported by Golf Channel, Nelly Korda has now spoken about the news.

“I honestly heard probably 15 minutes ago that she’s retiring,” she said. “She’s had such an amazing career, I think, I’ve got to be on a team with her a couple of times representing our country.

“I think she does an amazing job for the tour, she spends so much time going to each Pro-Am party, really dedicates her time to growing the game and it’s sad to see that she’s obviously leaving and not going to be out here with us anymore, but she’s had an amazing career and I wish her the best in this new chapter of her life.”

A potential great who should have won more

It will be interesting to see what Thompson’s legacy proves to be. She has undoubtedly been one of the game’s biggest names over the last decade.

Like Korda, she is one of those figures that plenty of more casual golf fans will be aware of. Thompson has been a stalwart of Solheim Cups teams since 2013, winning twice across six appearances. She is the youngest American to ever play in the event.

But there is a sense that Thompson has not been able to realise her full potential, having not won on the LPGA Tour since 2019. She has also missed the cut on four of her last five major championship starts.

But given her age and the impact she has had on the game during her career, perhaps it should not be a surprise if Thompson does decide to leave the door to returning to professional golf ever so slightly open.