ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Just a few years in the past, not too removed from St. Andrews at Gleneagles, Suzann Pettersen delivered arguably the best walk-off within the historical past of ladies’s skilled golf when she holed a Solheim Cup-winning putt after which surprisingly retired on the spot.
“I feel that was so cool what she did, the mic drop,” Lydia Ko says.
Added Lexi Thompson: “It was meant to be. It form of all simply ended up occurring, I really feel like, how God deliberate it for her.”
Ko and Thompson, who each turned professional earlier than they might legally drive, gained’t be competing for for much longer. The 27-year-old Ko has stated she doesn’t envision herself enjoying into her 30s — and that was earlier than she captured an Olympic gold medal and booked her place within the LPGA Corridor of Fame. Thompson, 29, introduced earlier this 12 months that this may be her final full-time season.
There are numerous who wouldn’t blame both in the event that they strolled throughout the Swilcan Bridge on Sunday, one other main title in hand, and waved goodbye for good.
How epic would that be?
Simply don’t count on it to occur.
“And simply retire if I gained?” Thompson stated when requested if she’s the kind of one that would recognize such a second. “No, I wouldn’t do this.”
Ko, who owns two main titles although has largely struck out in her Girls’s Open begins (two top-10s), stated her focus presently is retaining herself ready the place she’s competing at her highest stage. She is aware of the time will quickly come when she should maintain a press convention like Thompson did previous to the U.S. Girls’s Open again in Could.
However she gained’t be making any rash selections this week.
“That is undoubtedly not my final press convention,” Ko stated. “It’s thrilling what’s forward. In methods it may be scary as a result of
I’ve performed golf since I used to be 5, and that is my life whether or not I prefer it or not, and golf has given me a lot for me to be pleased about on and off the golf course. I feel it’s not a simple determination, however I do know I’ve an awesome assist group and household that’s so supportive. You already know, nice mentors which are going to assist me and provides me recommendation, and I really feel very lucky to be in that form of place.”
Thompson, whose lone main win got here a decade in the past in Palm Springs, has admittedly puzzled, even when barely, if these remaining laps across the Previous Course may very well be her final in a significant. However then she remembers that she’s nonetheless exempt for a handful extra.
“Going into subsequent 12 months, I’m going to take a while off and simply see how I really feel, see how I really feel mentally and the place I’m at,” Thompson stated.
If she’s in a position to compete, she’ll proceed to take action, simply in a part-time capability.
“My path,” Thompson provides, “I’m simply going to take it because it comes and do no matter makes me happiest.”
Ko says gamers like herself and Thompson have earned the appropriate to make no matter decisions they need with regards to how they may exit. Whereas a walk-off at St. Andrews can be a storybook ending for followers and writers alike, there’s a motive such moments don’t occur extra with these aggressive athletes.
It’s laborious to stroll away – and when it isn’t, it’s even more durable to win going away.
“As somebody that’s perhaps nearer to that time in my profession than after I was a rookie, you’ve come to appreciate all this stuff, and also you respect the participant for the choice that she got here up with,” Ko stated. “It’s their journey, so all we will do is simply clap and say thanks.”
