She is playing in her 18th U.S Women’s Open this week, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The fact she is only 29 speaks to a career that began at such a young age.
Thompson was 12 when she qualified for the 2007 U.S Women’s Open at Pine Needles, at the time the youngest to qualify. She also set an LPGA Tour record as the youngest winner when she captured the LPGA Classic at age 16.
Both records since have since been broken.
Thompson won 15 events, but only one major, at the Kraft Nabisco Championship (now Chevron Championship) in Rancho Mirage, California. She was a runner-up in four other majors, most notably being penalised four shots in the final round of the 2017 Championship at Rancho Mirage, from a rules violation the day before called in by a TV viewer. She also lost a five-shot lead at The Olympic Club in the 2021 U.S Women’s Open.
She also represented the United States in six Solheim Cups as well as two Olympic Games.
She grew up playing with her brothers, two of whom reached the PGA Tour, and was renowned for her power. Thompson accepted an exemption last year to play the PGA Tour event in Las Vegas, where she kept fans in suspense briefly about making the cut until fading.
For all her prodigious power, Thompson has gone nearly five years since her 11th and last LPGA victory, though she did win a Ladies European Tour event in 2022. She is 54th in the Women’s World Golf Rankings and has missed each of her last three cuts.
“She’s had such an amazing career,” World No. 1 Nelly Korda said.
“I’ve gotten to be on the team with her a couple times representing our country. I think she does an amazing job for the Tour. She really dedicated her time to growing the game. It’s sad to see that she’s obviously leaving and not going to be out here with us anymore.”
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