What is Lexi Thompson’s No. 1 priority after turning 30 next year? The golfer has announced her retirement from her professional career at the end of this year, so playing is out of the picture. Well, she made it clear ahead of the AIG Open last month when she mentioned getting married and starting a family are at the top of her list. But it appears she would still love to be a part of the game, that is… under one condition.

Thompson is committed to hanging up her club at the end of the current season. Last week, she mentioned that nothing would change her mind about retirement, but kept the door open for a return to the greens down the line. And now she has spoken about how her retirement plans won’t mean the end of her golfing journey.

“I haven’t thought too much ahead,” said the golfer when asked about her future involvement with the US team in an interview ahead of the upcoming Solheim Cup. But Thompson divulged that she would love to be associated with the Solheim Cup in the future. “But of course, I’d love to be still a part of it in any way,” confessed the golfer before adding, “I know how special it’s meant to me and how many memories and relationships and friendships I’ve made throughout the Solheim Cup.”

That, interestingly, is one thing that we, as golf fans, cannot deny. The athlete made a total of six Solheim Cup appearances over the years. And she, through the same, boasts a return of 9 wins, seven losses, and seven ties. Thompson even went on to win three of the matches she played last year while losing just one against the likes of Leona Maguire and Georgia Hall.

She has been a fixture of the Solheim Cup since 2013 and it was at her very first appearance that a controversy erupted. At the Colorado Golf Club, Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson were tied with Pettersen and Carlota Ciganda after 14 holes of their four-balls match. Ciganda then hit her second shot into the water on the par-5 15th and it led to a delay of half an hour. She was allowed to drop about 40 yards behind the point of entry and still made par. The LPGA later clarified that it was the incorrect ruling, Europe went 1 up on the 16th hole and won the match.

Thompson has also been a key part of the US’s last two victories in 2015 and 2017, teaming alongside Cristie Kerr to form a formidable partnership. The pair went 4-0-2 across six team sessions in both of the winning years.

Thompson’s desire to be associated with the team even after her retirement, could be fulfilled given how highly she is regarded within the US women’s golf team. Though her four top 10 finishes meant that she was the easy pick for Stacy Lewis to be the captain at the Solheim Cup, Lewis’s words about the 11-time LPGA winner suggest she would’ve been handed the responsibilities either way.

Still, for her, taking time away from the game remains important. Speaking ahead of the AIG Open in a press conference on 21 August, Thompson her plan for the coming year was “to settle down, get married, have a family. That’s my No. 1 priority.” 

But for now, the 29-year-old seems to be “focusing on the golf part of it right now.” Makes sense, seeing as how the athlete has three top-15 finishes, including two top-10s, from her last six starts. What’s more, her upcoming schedule also hints at how Thompson is just focused on playing at the moment.

What does Lexi Thompson’s rest of the year look like?

“Lexi, what’s your schedule like for the rest of 2024?” asked a reporter as the pre-Solheim Cup interview came to an end. “For the rest of this year I plan to play the following two weeks in Cincinnati and then in Arkansas. Then I’ll play the Florida swing at the end of the year,” she answered.

The golfer was, interestingly enough, referring to the Kroger Queen City Championship pres. by P&G in Cincinnati, and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship pres. by P&G in Arkansas.

That’s not all. She also hinted at teeing off at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge and the CME Group Tour Championship, both of which are set in Florida. But then what about 2025? “I’m just going to take it day by day,” added the 1-time major champ, “Take some time for myself, and see how I feel after that.” Well, one thing is for sure: her fans will surely only want what’s best for her, despite their wish to see her on the course again next season!