‘Will Miss You Buddy’: Golf World Bids Farewell to 3X LPGA Tour Legend, After Her ‘New Chapter’ Confession

In any sport, long hours of stern practice and intense physical training leave many players with pain and injuries. And often, these physical strains force players to make critical decisions that either put their careers on pause or force them to stop playing altogether.

Even the golf legend, Tiger Woods himself, can’t escape this problem and has been forced to pause his career due to his leg injury. Similarly, owing to a neck injury, a three-time LPGA winner has taken a huge step and announced her retirement from professional golf. And the golf world is more than sad to see her leave!

LPGA Tour pro announces his departure from the Tour

It is a sad day for the LPGA Tour, which is saying goodbye to one of its pro players. 31-year-old Austin Ernst is ending her career with the LPGA owing to health issues. She is about to start a new phase of her career as a golf assistant coach at Texas University. Announcing her official exit from the LPGA, Ernst posted the news on her Instagram account.

In the image, she wrote, “For the past 18 months, I have been struggling with a neck injury that has sidelined me from playing on the LPGA Tour. Unfortunately, this injury is going to persist and put an end to my full-time playing career. I hope to still play intermittently, as my health allows.” She further declared, “It has been a privilege to play on the LPGA tour for the past 10 years.”

Amid her emotional message, she also announced that she was excitedly looking forward to the “new chapter” in her life as the second in command at Texas University.

Ernst has had made some good conquests while playing on the Tour,with three wins over the course of 10 years. In 2014, she won the Portland Classic; in 2020, she won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship; and in 2021, she won the LPGA Drive-On Championship. She has earned a total of $4,531,700 from these wins. Her accomplishments are a testament to her skill, and make one thing certain: she will undoubtedly be a successful coach!

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Tour pros and fans react to Ernst’s departure and send her their best wishes

The news of Ernst’s exit from the Tour spread like wildfire throughout the golf community. The skilled golfer had impressed both fans and colleagues alike over the years, and they were certainly sad to see her go. At the same time, they were joyful for the golfer’s next step and showered her with support.

LPGA Legend Danielle Kang congratulated Ernst and promised to visit her. “Partner you’re the best. Those girls don’t know how lucky they are. Can’t wait to come visit you coach”

The official account of the LPGA Tour also congratulated her and referred to her as Coach: “Best of luck in the next chapter, Coach! 👏 We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!”

Trevor Knight wrote, “LETS GO! 👍🏼“

Swedish golfer Pernilla Lindberg congratulated her as well: “Congrats on the new job 👏🏼🔥“

Biker Christain Vande Velde wrote, “Congrats Austin!”

Major champion Morgan Pressel also sent good wishes her way: “Congrats austin! Good luck!! 🙌“

Caroline Masson wrote, “Will miss you buddy but congrats on the new job! You’ll do great🙌🏼😘“

Jennifer Kupcho, who recently lost out to Rose Zhang at the Mizuho Open last week, was also stoked for Ernst. “Omg! Congrats so happy for you!”

The Texas University Women’s Golf Department also extended an official welcome to the LPGA star on Instagram, saying that “the program just got better.”

Ernst joined the Tour back in 2013 and qualified for it on her first attempt. Since then, she has been actively participating in the Tour’s events and has scored three wins for herself. She even came close to winning a major LPGA tournament in 2018 at the Evian Championship but finished in T2. And now with her departure, the golf world wishes that Ernst would use her supreme skills to frame young women into better golfers.

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What are your thoughts on Ernst’s new role? Let us know in the comments.