After Complaining About Loneliness, Lexi Thompson Reveals the Only Silver Lining of Harsh LPGA Career

“Unfortunately, in golf you lose more than you win, so it’s an ongoing battle to continue to put yourself out there in front of the cameras and continuing to work hard and maybe not seeing the results you want and getting criticized for it.” This is what Lexi Thompson had said before the US Women’s Open, after announcing that she will retire after 2024. Then, she shed light on how exhausting the game can be for golfers. According to the 11-time LPGA Tour winner, at some point in time, all golfers go through what she has been feeling lately as it’s a part of the sport. However, there is one thing that has always kept her going.

In the post-second round presser of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Lexi Thompson talked about the support that has always motivated her during the ups and downs of her golf journey. Lexi Thompson’s fans have always supported her. Even though the first half of 2024 wasn’t that great for her, fans never left her side. On being asked what she would miss after bidding farewell to the sport, she was outrightly clear in her answer.

“The fans. I think the fans have, like I said in my message, the fans have pushed me to get through the hardest times. The bad days, the fans make those days so much better. Seeing the little kids, little boys and girls, even out here, it’s an amazing feeling.” Further adding to this, Thompson said, “No matter what you shoot they want your autograph and look up to you. Whether it’s me or any of the girls out here. That’s what we want, to be a role model for these little kids, get them involved in the game, whether that’s professionally or just for fun.” Now, the one-time major winner has been regaining her momentum. In the 2024 Meijer LPGA Classic, last week, she finished at T2, while in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, she is at T3 after the second round, trailing the leader’s spot by just 2 strokes.

With Lexi Thompson’s form coming back, hopefully, this might be doing loads for her mental health as well. That being said, many golfers have been dealing with similar issues in the past. For instance, the world number two in men’s golf, Rory McIlroy, has also faced such issues, the latest being after the conclusion of the 2024 US Open.

Rory McIlroy talks about his agony

Rory McIlroy‘s stress and heartbreak were quite evident after he suffered a close defeat at the hands of the former PGA Tour golfer Bryson DeChambeau. The world number two was so upset at missing his possible first major after a ten-year drought that he left Pinehurst No. 2 immediately after the conclusion of the major. Not only this, McIlroy also withdrew from the Travelers Championship.

The four-time major winner had earlier talked about his mental health. Last year, while talking to the reporters ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship, he reflected on what continuously being present at the greens for a long time had done to him and his mind. In his words, “I feel like it’s totally consumed my life for the last 12 months. It’s been a pretty tumultuous time, and being in the position that I’m in it’s taken up a lot of my time.” As a result, he decided to withdraw from the RBC Heritage.

With the greats of the game coming out in public about the toll that it has taken on their psychological health, one can only hope that more conversations regarding such issues happen in golf circles. On the other hand, as Thompson continues her performance at the 2024 Meijer LPGA Classic, Do you think she will be able to win her second major at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship? Let us know in the comments.