A 29-year-old professional golf player has announced her retirement, citing the pressures of playing a professional sport in the public eye.
12-year LPGA veteran Lexi Thompson confirmed she will retire from professional golf at the end of this season in an open letter she shared on Instagram on May 28.
“While this has been an incredible journey, it has not always been easy,” Thompson said in the letter, shared on Instagram along with a video montage of career highlights. “Since the age of 12, my golfing life has been a whirlwind of constant attention, surveillance and pressure. The cameras are always on, capturing every swing and every moment on and off the golf course.”
“Social media never sleeps, comments and criticism are pouring in from all over the world,” she added. “It can be exhausting to keep a smile on the outside while struggling on the inside.”
Thompson made history when she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open at age 12 in 2007, becoming the youngest person to do so, according to her LPGA biography.
During her career, Thompson became an 11-time LPGA Tour winner, a major champion, a two-time Olympian and earned more than $14 million.
Thompson said in her retirement video that amid her career highs, she found solace in speaking publicly about her mental health “battles.”
“By talking about my own struggles, I was able to connect with others who feel isolated in their struggles, providing them with a sense of community and understanding,” she said. “Every time I share, it reinforces the message that it’s okay to not be okay and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
Lexi Thompson of the United States attends a practice session before the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally at Lancaster Country Club on May 29, 2024 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Thompson also spoke about the role mental health played in her decision to retire from professional golf during a press conference Tuesday at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open, the same tournament where her career began.
“I think we all have our own (mental health) issues, especially here,” she said. “Unfortunately in golf you lose more than you win, so it’s a constant struggle to keep putting yourself in front of the cameras and keep working hard and maybe not seeing the results you want and to be criticized for that. So it’s difficult. I will say, yes, I’ve struggled with that. I don’t think there’s anyone here who hasn’t. is just a matter of being able to hide it, which is very sad.
She continued: “It’s an important thing to address and accept to get help, support and surround yourself with people who support you and love you, because there are always people who care so much from you and who will help you get through these difficult times.
Thompson’s comments on mental health come just days after the parents of professional golfer Grayson Murray confirmed the two-time PGA Tour winner had committed suicide.
“Life was not always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he is at peace now,” Eric and Terry Murray said in a statement about their son.
Other professional athletes have also spoken publicly about the pressures of competing in the public eye, including gymnast Simone Biles and Los Angeles Rams backup quarterback Stetson Bennett, who recently confirmed his absence from the team last season was linked to mental health.
Thompson said that, in her experience, being a professional athlete can be “lonely.”
“Being here, it can be a lot of things. It can be lonely. Sorry if I get emotional,” she said Tuesday, holding back tears. “A lot of people don’t realize a lot of what we go through as a professional athlete… We do what we love. We do our best every day and we’re not perfect. We’re human. words hurt, and sometimes it’s hard to overcome.”
She credited a group of people around her with helping her “get through some very difficult times.”
“I think it’s a lot for everyone here, or in any professional sport,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know what we go through and the amount of training and hard work we put ourselves through. It’s a lot and I think we deserve a lot more credit than we get.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises, please call or text 988. You will be contacted by a trained crisis counselor free of charge, 24 hours a day a day, seven days a week. You can also visit 988lifeline.org.
ABC News
