Lexi Thompson gave a tearful press convention after ending her remaining full-time aggressive season on the LPGA Tour.
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Lexi Thompson is simply 29, however she’s lived a number of lifetimes in golf.
She launched herself to the world of golf in 2007 when she certified for the U.S. Ladies’s Open on the age of 12. On the time, she was the youngest participant to ever qualify for the nationwide championship. She turned professional three years later and received for the primary time on the LPGA Tour the next season. The query then was not if the budding celebrity would win a serious title, however relatively what number of.
Seems, Thompson would go on to win only one, a triumph within the desert in 2014 that culminated with a leap into Poppie’s Pond. There have been different alternatives, full with agonizingly shut calls and controversial finishes, however Thompson’s win on the Dinah Shore was her lone triumph on the largest stage. After all, Thompson’s journey had many different highlights, however in the end her profession grew to become outlined by what may’ve been.
On Sunday in Naples, that journey formally got here to a detailed. With a final-round 74 on the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, Thompson’s aggressive enjoying profession over. There could also be one-off occasions sooner or later, however for now, Thompson’s full-time enjoying days are behind her.
Chatting with the media after the spherical, Thompson struggled to comprise her feelings when reflecting on “the top.”
“It was very emotional,” she stated. “Actually wasn’t till I bought to [the last hole] for some cause. Form of all hit me.”
Thompson’s remaining occasion didn’t go the best way she doubtless had hoped. She posted two-under for the week — good for a tie for forty ninth place — and her remaining spherical featured a quadruple-bogey 8. To make issues worse, the TV protection on Sunday compelled a two-tee begin for the ultimate spherical, that means Thompson completed on No. 9 relatively than No. 18.
“Fairly unhappy,” Thompson wrote on Instagram. “Bummed I received’t have the ability to embrace all of the unbelievable followers on 18.”
Finally, after all, the unceremonious end and lackluster play received’t be what Thompson is remembered for. Her legacy can be formed by her triumphs and heartbreaks — and likewise for her generosity with these supported her via all of it.
“[My legacy] means extra to me than something,” Thompson stated. “After all the wins, you realize, bought me to what I’m, the accomplishments and every part, however I wished to depart an even bigger impression as a task mannequin, any individual who gave again to the sport, any individual who made an impression on little ladies and boys out right here getting began within the recreation at a younger age. Exhibiting the best way I give again to the folks and the sponsors and every part, there may be extra vital issues than simply enjoying good golf.”
Some observers will say Thompson underachieved on the course; others will say that was, partially, the results of unfair strain at too early an age. Her resume is stuffed with grand achievements, nevertheless it’s exhausting to not marvel how significantly better it may’ve been.
One factor that may’t be argued, although, is the impression Thompson made on her followers who supported her via all of it. Even in her darkest moments, she at all times made time to provide again.
“The moments I’ll cherish probably the most are in all probability with the followers,” she stated. “These are the moments I’ll actually bear in mind again as a result of they made an impression in my life as properly.”
