Lexi Thompson has announced her plans to retire from full-time competition at the end of the 2024 season. Before World No. 1 Nelly Korda began her dominant run, 29-year-old Thompson had been the face of American golf for a decade.
Thompson turned professional at age 15 and won her first LPGA event at 16, a record that has since been broken by Lydia Ko. With nearly half her life spent on tour, Thompson, a fan favorite, is ready for life to be consumed by something other that golf.
“Golf has been my life ever since I was 5 years old, tournaments when I was 7,” she said. “I haven’t really known much of a life different, but it’s been an amazing one.”
In 13 seasons on tour, she won 11 LPGA titles, including one major championship. Here’s a closer look at those victories and a prolific Solheim Cup record:
Lexi Thompson holds high her trophy after winning the Navistar LPGA Classic on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill in Prattville, Ala., on Sunday Sept. 18, 2011.
Winning score: 17 under
Winning margin: 5 strokes
Lexi Thompson kisses the Sime Darby LPGA Trophy after she won 19 under 265 during day four of the Sime Darby LPGA at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on October 13, 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)
Winning score: 19 under
Winning margin: 4 strokes
Lexi Thompson holds the trophy after winning the 2013 Lorena Ochoa Invitational at the Guadalajara Country Club.
Winning score: 16 under
Winning margin: 1 stroke
Lexi Thompson poses with the Dinah Shore Trophy after winning the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports)
Winning score: 14 under
Winning margin: 3 strokes
Lexi Thompson takes a simulated selfie with the championship trophy after winning the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft at Blythefield Country Club on July 26, 2015 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Winning score: 18 under
Winning margin: 1 stroke
Lexi Thompson lifts the winners trophy during a ceremony following the 2015 LPGA KEB HanaBank in Incheon, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Winning score: 15 under
Winning margin: 1 stroke
Lexi Thompson presents Reebok award during day four of the 2016 Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club in Chon Buri, Thailand. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images)
Winning score: 20 under
Winning margin: 6 strokes
Lexi Thompson gets sprayed with water on the 18th green after winning the Kingsmill Championship on the River Course at Kingsmill Resort on May 21, 2017 in Williamsburg, Virginia. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
Winning score: 20 under
Winning margin: 5 strokes
Lexi Thompson pours milk on her head while standing on the race track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after winning the Indy Women In Tech Championship-Presented By Guggenheim at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course on September 9, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Winning score: 19 under
Winning margin: 4 strokes
Lexi Thompson poses for a photo with the CME Group Tour Championship trophy at Tiburon Golf Club on November 18, 2018 in Naples, Florida. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Winning score: 18 under
Winning margin: 4 strokes
Lexi Thompson holds the trophy after winning the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic on the Bay Course at Seaview in Galloway, New Jersey. (Photo: Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
Winning score: 11 under
Winning margin: 1 stroke
Lexi Thompson of Team USA reacts during practice prior to the The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 21, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Solheim Cup appearances: 6 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)
Solheim Cup record: 9-7-7 (2-1-3 singles)