Lexi Thompson opens up on post-retirement plans

It’s been three months since Lexi Thompson announced that she would be retiring from playing golf full-time at the end of the season.

And no, she has no regrets.

“I’m very content with my decision,” said the 29-year-old. “I think that’s what will make me happiest inside.”

Based purely on her demenour during her pre-AIG Women’s Open press conference, she certainly seems content. During the course of a near 30-minute back and forth, Thompson smiled, laughed and cracked jokes.

Where she once appeared to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders, she now seems lighter, more free.

Happier, basically.

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“I think overall there is a little less weight on my shoulders after the announcement because it has been on my mind for a few years,” she revealed. “It’s something that’s been inside that nobody really knew about or what was going to happen.

“All of us players, we have our own battles. Everybody does. Everybody has their things they go through and how they deal with them. But everybody deserves to do whatever makes them the happiest.

“But once I made the announcement, it definitely took a little bit of a weight, and I’m just trying to come out here, sign all the autographs, embrace the fans and really appreciate them and the sponsors and just be lucky that we’re out here.”

Whilst she is refusing to shut the door on golf altogether, hinting that she may exercise her exemption into various majors next year, Thompson did provide a revealing window into how she plans to start her post-tour life.

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“I’m launching my Lexi Fitness app in the next few weeks,” she said. “That’ll be up and going very soon, and then next year I want to travel. I want to be able to travel and not play golf, so to be able to sightsee and do all the ‘touristy things’. Definitely looking forward to that.

“And I’ll be 30 next year, so settle down, get married, have a family. That’s my No.1 priority.”

Before then, she has the more immediate challenge of trying to add a second major victory to her CV this week.

“It would mean the world to me,” she added. “At the home of golf? It doesn’t get much better than that.

“But there’s so much golf to be played, and weeks like this you just have to stay in the moment and take one shot at a time, be patient, know there will be bad breaks or some bad shots.

“You just have to get through them with a positive attitude and keep on going.

“There’s a lot of golf to be played and a lot of great players out there, so I’ll see what I can do.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor