And while she didn’t play that weekend in North Carolina that year, the golf world never expected what the child would one day become.
Seventeen years after that life-changing moment, Lexi still wears those ladybug earrings. She is an 11-time LPGA Tour winner, major champion, two-time Olympian, six-time member of the Solheim Cup U.S. team and one of the most recognizable faces in golf.
She announced Tuesday morning that she plans to retire from professional golf at the end of the 2024 season, making this her last year on the LPGA Tour.
“While it is never easy to say goodbye, it is indeed time. At the end of 2024, I will be stepping away from a full professional golf schedule. I`m excited to enjoy the remainder of the year as there are still goals I want to accomplish. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life. Time with family, friends, and my trusted companion Leo. I will always look for ways to contribute to the sport and inspire the next generation of golfers. And of course, I look forward to a little time for myself.”
Lexie is unique in many ways. Since she burst onto the golf scene so many years ago, fans have witnessed her every win, every heartache, every struggle, every success up close. She was one of golf’s first teenage superstars, a prodigy that adults and children alike were drawn to because Thompson was someone you rooted for, someone you could relate to.
She took on the role of women’s golf and never saw it as a burden, but rather as a privilege. It’s the little things Lexie has done that leave the most lasting impression. She has signed every hat, glove, flag and ball given to her over the past nearly two decades, and at autograph sessions, she is always attentive to everyone’s requests, no matter how good or bad they are. Or at least she is playing. Interestingly, she still signs as Alexis Thompson, not Lexie, which has been hers since the first U.S. Women’s Open all those years ago.
Lexie’s mother instilled a love and respect for fans from an early age, often telling her that it was almost her duty to brighten at least one person’s day every time she left the house. And that’s what has driven Thompson to push the boundaries throughout her career, especially in golf. Lexie is keenly aware of the platform that success on the LPGA Tour has given her, and she takes advantage of every opportunity to be a role model for those around her.
When Thompson became the seventh woman to tee off on the PGA Tour in October of last year, it was one of the best illustrations of her determination to lead by example. That week, she came dangerously close to making the cut at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas, Nevada, an achievement that would have mirrored her big win. However, Thompson had other plans when she made the decision to compete on the PGA Tour among men.
Thompson stated at the Shriners Children’s Open pre-tournament press conference, “Its been something I grew up doing with my brothers and have wanted to do, but to also send a message out to the Shriners kids that no dream is too small, and they can go after what they want and follow their dreams." "If I can leave here inspiring others, and especially the kids, the Shriners kids, thats what it’s all about and what this tournament is. There is more than just playing golf.
“If I can inspire one individual, I would feel like I’m making progress. Of course, yes, I want to play good. That’s a whole other story. There is more to life than performing well. That’s what I want to do, inspire others.”
Thompson also has the unique distinction of being known only by a single name, as very few players in women’s golf are known by a single nickname. Annika and Lorena come to mind. Just like The Babe.
But Lexi is one of the incredible few female athletes to earn this honor in the modern era. In the past 20 years, perhaps only Nelly Korda has come along.
Whenever I ask fans or kids at an LPGA Tour event, “Who’s your favorite player?” or “Who are you here to watch?” And no matter how she’s playing or how much her career has progressed, Lexi still moves the needle in ways that most athletes dream of doing throughout a career.
But at 29, that doesn’t come naturally to him anymore.
People are naturally moved by golf. Lexi hammers the golf ball, throwing her whole body into every shot, every swing. Her aggressive movements still exude grace and agility, resulting in well-hit golf shots. While she’s especially fun to watch smash her driver, Thompson also has the green skills to let her short-game creativity shine, capitalizing on birdie opportunities and making those must-have pars when it counts.
But that’s not all that draws people to her. LPGA Tour Commissioner Molly Marcoux-Samantha could easily sum up Lexi’s star power and likeability on and off the golf course.
“Lexi`s impact extends far beyond the golf course. She embodies the spirit and dedication of our Founders — always showing up and engaging intentionally to help further the growth and impact of the LPGA,” said Marcoux Samaan. “She is beloved by fans, consistently seen signing autographs and interacting with them no matter the result that day. Lexi’s commitment to our partners has also been unparalleled. Throughout her career, she has continually made time to engage with partners, their employees and their clients, and truly has valued their tremendous support of women’s golf.
“This dedication was exemplified last year when she was honored with our Founders Award, given to an LPGA Member who best exemplifies the spirit, ideals, and values of the LPGA through her behavior and deeds, as voted on by her peers. Lexi’s remarkable career and the way she has conducted herself both on and off the course have inspired countless girls around the world to pursue their goals with passion and perseverance.”
This tenacity has been crucial to Lexi’s longevity over the years. This week she will play in her 18th U.S. Championship, a fitting number for Lexi’s final start in this important tournament. She has come close many times to winning this coveted title, and in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she will once again be working towards that goal, but this time she will have a little more to think about.
As she walks the fairways of Lancaster Country Club, memories of the other 17 in America come flooding back. The Women’s Open comes to mind, with just as many waves as the first tournament in 2007 that started it all. Her last 13 years on the LPGA Tour inevitably come to mind, bringing a wry smile or a tear to the eye depending on the memory that is being conjured.
But it’s not over. Not yet, anyway. And while this moment will be bittersweet as Thompson says goodbye to the tournament that literally launched her career, Lexi still has a lot in store this season.
And luckily, there’s still plenty of time to watch Thompson compete. There’s still six months until the end of the year. A lot more could happen before then.
Maybe Lexi will surprise us all again.