Goodbyes are hard. But it’s harder when you are bidding farewell to LPGA Tour glory, and so is the situation for Lexi Thompson. Thankfully, though, the Dana Open’s latest initiative has made the realization that Thompson will retire from a full professional golf schedule at the end of this season a little easier.

The event’s masterminds have curated a unique Lexi Thompson Day on Tournament Fridays to celebrate this philanthropic sensation’s “success and growth over the past 14 years.” This season, the $1.75 million prize purse event will observe Lexi Thompson Day on July 19th.

Quite an achievement, right? After all, not everyone gets a day named after themselves at just the age of 29. But then, not everyone’s journey is quite like that of the 11-time LPGA Tour winner. Thompson qualified at the age of only 12 years, four months, and one day old; she turned pro at age 15; and she won on the LPGA Tour for the first time at age 16 becoming the youngest winner at that time. After a long run of 14 years filled with career highs and a fair share of struggles, Thompson has now decided to step away from the game and make her last season a memorable one.

Even Dana Open Tournament Director Judd Silverman was quick to recognize Thompson’s role in expanding the game of golf. Silverman said as per LPGA.com, “Lexi has meant so much to the LPGA Tour’s success and growth over the past 14 years, and we felt this was the perfect time to honor her for everything she’s done for golf. Lexi has moved women’s golf forward while inspiring kids to follow their passion and dream big. I think she’s signed just about every hat, glove, ball, and flag handed to her and accepted countless requests from sponsors to make appearances on their behalf. Tournament Friday is a great time for the community to come out to the Dana Open and show Lexi how much we appreciate everything she’s done for kids and the game of golf!”

Thompson’s many contributions to philanthropic causes like the military and youth golf development have helped the game of golf grow multifold. Ideally, then, this Lexi Thompson Day is a perfect match of sorts when compared to the Dana Open’s contributions to benefit several Toledo area children’s charities.

This features the ProMedica Russell Ebeid Children’s Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital-Toledo, Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity: Women Build, Ronald McDonald House Charities of NW Ohio, and the Jamie Farr Scholarship Fund of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation. But what was Lexi Thompson’s reaction to this unique recognition awarded by the Dana Open?

Lexi Thompson’s display of gratitude at the Dana Open’s special recognition

Recognition feels good, especially in such emotional times as an approaching retirement. Lexi Thompson is no exception to the happiness that validation casts on a person. The one-time major winner was, of course, delighted when she found out about the special recognition by the LPGA Tour event.

A happy Thompson said, “I’m honored that the Dana Open has chosen to recognize me on Friday of tournament week. I always love coming to Toledo to see all the amazing fans and hopefully the younger generation of golfers. What the Dana Open does with giving back to children’s charities is incredible and I just hope that by all of us ladies playing we inspire others and make a difference.”

Surely this special recognition also expands Thompson’s initiative to make a difference even after her retirement. The existence of a Lexi Thompson day on Tournament Fridays will continue to inspire young talent to move in the direction of glory, following the 29-year-old sensation’s footsteps.