Lexi Thompson got emotional as she spoke about her decision to retire from professional golf at just 29 years old.
Thompson announced at a press conference on Tuesday ahead of the U.S. Women’s Open, which begins Thursday at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, that she would retire from the LPGA Tour at the end of this season.
“It can be hard being out here. It can be lonely. I’m sorry I got emotional. I said I wouldn’t get emotional,” Thompson said through tears. “Especially with what’s happened in golf, I just don’t think people understand a lot of what we go through as professional athletes. I definitely don’t have anybody who’s going to say, ‘Pity me.’ That’s the last thing I want.”
Thompson appeared to be referring to PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray, who committed suicide on Saturday.
“We are doing what we love, and we try our best every day, but we’re not perfect. We are human, and words can hurt and be hard to overcome, but having people around me who love and support me is what I feel is most important,” Thompson continued.
“I don’t have a huge number of friends, but having the people who matter most to me around me has helped me get through some really tough times.
“I think it’s hard for everybody here, or any professional athlete. A lot of people don’t know how much training we do and how much work we put in. It’s hard. I think we deserve a lot more recognition than we get.”
Thompson believes golf is his life and cited his mental health as one of the factors in his decision to retire.
“I think it’s a struggle for all of us, especially here,” she said. “Unfortunately, in golf you lose more than you win, so it’s a constant battle to go in front of the camera and keep trying so hard, and sometimes you don’t get the results you want and you get criticized. So it’s tough.”
“I’m going to remain here. Yes, I’ve struggled with it. I don’t think there’s anybody here who hasn’t,” she said. “It’s just a question of how well you can hide it, and that’s very sad.”
Thompson burst onto the scene in 2007 when she competed in the U.S. Women’s Open at age 12, and has since won 11 LPGA tournaments, including her last major, the Chevron Championship in 2014.
She nearly won her second Chevron Championship in 2017, but was penalized four strokes for making an unauthorized ball exchange and then signing an incorrect scorecard.
This mistake sent her into a playoff against Ryu So-yeon, who ultimately won the major championship.
Thompson’s last LPGA win was the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic, and she also finished second at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2022 Ladies Professional Golf Championship.
