It is a big boost for the LPGA Tour that, despite retiring from full-time competition this year, Lexi Thompson is still planning to play in a handful of events in the future.
It sent shockwaves through the golfing world earlier this year when it was announced that Lexi Thompson would be retiring from full-time golf at the end of the season. And yet, as the news started to sink it, it seemed to make a lot of sense when you consider that the 29-year-old has been a professional since the age of 15 – and was just 12 when she played in the US Women’s Open for the first time.
Thompson may be a little disappointed that she did not add to her one major title – the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship – but she will certainly be remembered as a game-changer in the sport.
Thompson accomplished so much, not missing a single Solheim Cup since her debut in 2013. And there is respect for her game across the sport.
Smylie Kaufman shares what many have no idea about with Lexi Thompson
Speaking to Jessica Korda on The Smylie Show about Thompson’s capabilities, Smylie Kaufman suggested that she has probably not got the credit that she deserves.
“I grew up basically with the Thompsons, in junior golf, amateur golf, and Curtis went to LSU, and I’ve played a bunch with Lexi. And Lexi and I were paired together at the Franklin Templeton Shootout, and she was playing with Bryson, I was playing with JT,” he said.
“And I remember the second hole, because she’s playing the same tees as us, and Lexi pipes one, and JT and I look at each other, we’re like, ‘this is not a good time to hit the heel ball’, because she smoked it out there. And I tell you what, I kind mishit it on the bottom and I’m just thinking in my head, go, go, go, go, and it covered by like five yards over her ball. I’m like thank god. And in my mind, watching Lexi play that whole day, my goodness gracious, people have no idea how good Lexi is.”
How likely Thompson is to return to the LPGA Tour in the future
Thompson averaged 267.87 yards off the tee on the LPGA this past season, which leaves her just outside the top 25. When you consider that she has not been at her best for a little while, that is extremely impressive.
The interesting thing will be to see how often Thompson plays. Ultimately, she played at least 19 events each year on the LPGA between 2012 and 2019. And she still played 18 times on tour this year.
So she has basically never known not being a full-time golfer. And with that, some think that there is a decent chance that Thompson will return to the game in the future.
The LPGA will surely be waiting with open arms whenever she decides she does want to tee it up again.
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