SAMMAMISH, Wash. — Lexi Thompson is finally feeling lighter.
The 29-year-old announced her intentions to retire at the end of the 2024 season a few weeks ago at the U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club, and while she missed the cut that week in Pennsylvania, finally getting the news out seemed to lift a weight off Thompson’s shoulders, something evidenced by her play the last two weeks.
She came oh-so close to her 12th LPGA Tour title last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, ultimately falling to Lilia Vu after a gritty, three-way, three-hole playoff at Blythefield Country Club. Thompson also recorded a 29 on the first nine holes on Saturday in the Great Lakes State, making five birdies and an eagle on the front nine of her third round.
But even though she didn’t come away from Belmont, Mich., with a trophy in hand, it was a resoundingly positive experience for the major champion, even more so considering Thompson had a new caddie, Mark Wallington, on her bag.
“Knowing I was five shots behind starting the day, I knew I had to have the pedal down and make a lot of birdies from the jump,” Thompson said last Sunday. “I can only control what I can control, so I just tried to focus on one shot at a time and play within myself and my emotions. That's all I could do. Whatever happens with the result happened, so happy with the result. A lot of good things to take from this week, especially with the results I've had lately. A lot of positives and going to continue to work hard on it.”
Now, Thompson has seemingly carried that good energy over to this week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, carding a 4-under 68 in the first round at Sahalee Country Club, her lowest first round score in a major championship since she carded a 68 on day one of the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club.
She struck the ball beautifully on Thursday, gaining 4.53 strokes tee to green on the field on day one, according to KPMG Performance Insights, and Thompson looked as comfortable as she has ever been on a major-championship golf course like Sahalee, laughing and cutting up with Wallington as the pair traipsed the fairways of the difficult layout.
Though she joked that what exactly the pair talk about is a secret, it’s obvious that Thompson is enjoying the walk alongside Wallington, someone who she has known for quite some time on the LPGA Tour. A caddie can sometimes make all the difference for a player’s success, and while there are certainly other factors that have contributed to Thompson’s solid play over the last two weeks, having Wallington on the bag has clearly made an impact.
“We've always had a very great friendship. We get along so well, just never have worked together,” Thompson said. “I've always considered (Mark) one of my great friends out here that I go to, and vice versa. We always have a good laugh with each other and really look for each other in a friendship when needed. So I was like, you know what? This sounds great. Let's just work together and see how it does.
“No matter what, we'll always have that friendship and bond. That will never leave us. Ended up working out. He's amazing out there for me. He's very positive, and that's what I need out there.”
One has to wonder though if Thompson is also relieved to have finally let the cat out of the bag a few weeks ago at Lancaster. She’s been an LPGA Tour member since 2012 and has been in golf’s hottest spotlight since she showed up at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open as a baby-faced 12-year-old.
It’s been an incredibly long career that has seen Thompson experience some of the highest highs and the lowest lows, and she didn’t mince words when talking about the toll that golf has taken on her mental health over the years, something that Thompson thinks needs to be talked about more by everyone in the world of professional athletics.
“I'll be the last one to say like throw me a pity party. That's the last thing I want,” said Thompson in Pennsylvania. “We're doing what we love. We're trying the best every single day. We're not perfect. We're humans. Words hurt. It's hard to overcome sometimes. I think it's a lot for everyone out here or in any professional sport. A lot of people don't know what we go through. I think we deserve a lot more credit than what we get.
“I've struggled with (mental health). I don't think there's somebody out here that hasn't. It's just a matter of how well you hide it, which is very sad. It's an important thing to address and be okay with getting help and getting the support and surrounding yourself with the people that support you and love you because there are always people that do care so much about you and will help you get through those tough moments.”
After a near-miss last week and an impeccable first round at Sahalee, the golf world has already started to question Thompson about potentially changing her mind about retirement. The truth is, everyone – no matter whether or not you’re a Lexi Thompson fan – loves watching the 11-time LPGA Tour winner enjoy herself on the golf course.
It’s fun to watch her bomb her driver and nearly chip in for eagle to win golf tournaments and roll her putts confidently. But it’s even more so to watch Thompson have fun, something that we’ve gotten to see since she announced she was stepping away from competitive golf.
While the end of the season will come far more quickly than Thompson’s fans want it to, there are still plenty of opportunities to watch Lexi compete.
And if her first round at Sahalee is any indication, there is a chance fans just might get to see her win that elusive 12th LPGA Tour title, a victory Thompson and the golf world have waited five long years for.
It could be a triumph that happens this week at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, what would be an exclamation point on an excellent career for Lexi Thompson.
Peak @Lexi was showing out at Sahalee on Thursday 🔥💪 pic.twitter.com/QSq4M1d6fA
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 21, 2024
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