As a 12-year-old in 2007, Lexi Thompson strode onto the big stage at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, in a visor and pigtails as the youngest qualifier in history to that point.
Despite shooting 76-82 and not advancing to the weekend, Thompson served notice that she was a child golfer with worlds of potential.
Returning to the U.S. Women’s Open stage this week at Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Country Club, Thompson announced that she will retire as a full-time player on the LPGA Tour at the end of the season. When she tees off at 1:58 p.m. EDT Thursday with Rose Zhang and Minjee Lee, it will mark her 18th consecutive U.S. Women’s Open, and she’s only 29.
“It feels amazing just to be here this week,” Thompson, an 11-time LPGA Tour winner, said in her pre-tournament news conference. “Reflecting back, this being my 18th U.S. Women’s Open, at the age of 29, it’s amazing because this tournament is where my whole career got started. I always say that 2007 at …
