LEX GONE
Inside Lexi Thompson’s illustrious career with 15 titles and one major as golf legend retires aged just 29
She began her career as one of the youngest players ever
LEXI THOMPSON has announced she is retiring from golf aged just 29.
She retires with 15 titles to her name, having made her professional debut at just 12.
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Her career will draw to a close when this season comes to an end, and she is currently preparing for the US Women's Open.
The major, which kicks off on Thursday, will be her 18th during her illustrious career.
Her Open debut came in 2007 at Pine Needles, when she then held the record for the youngest woman to ever qualify.
She would go on to set an LPGA record when she won the Navistar LPGA Classic at the age of just 16.
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Both records have gone on to be broken, but show just what a trailblazer she has been for the sport.
Her game was notoriously a powerful one, and this combined with her young age during her breakthrough helped inspire a whole new generation of fans to watch golf.
She'd go on to win 15 titles in total.
One of these was a major, when she won the 2014 Kraft Nabisco tournament in Rancho Mirage, California.
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Thompson went on to finish runner up at majors on four occasions.
The most infamous of these saw her penalized four shots in the final round of the 2017 Kraft Nabisco.
Golf legend Lexi Thompson makes shock retirement announcement at just 29 after historic LPGA career
This came for a code violation the day before.
She also lost a five shot lead in the final round of the 2021 US Women's Open.
LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan paid tribute to Thompson in a statement.
She said: "Lexi's impact extends far beyond the golf course.
"She embodies the spirit and dedication of our founders - always showing up and engaging intentionally to help further the growth and impact of the LPGA.
"She is beloved by fans, consistently seen signing autographs and interacting with them no matter the result that day.
"... On behalf of the LPGA, I want to thank Lexi for her incredible contributions to our Tour and to women's golf.
"We wish her all the best in her next chapter, and we, along with the fans, look forward to watching her compete and celebrating her throughout the rest of the season."
The major winner also paid tribute to her fans for their support on social media.
She uploaded a video containing an open letter to her fans as she announced the end of her career.
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She captioned the post on her Instagram: "Have a listen to the letter I wrote to the game of golf."
The emotional video featured a highlight reel from her career, including clips from her rookie season at the age of just 12.