For the first time in 20 years, Lexi Thompson won't be participating in the U.S. Women's Open when golfers tee off Thursday at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.
Thompson played in her first U.S. Women's Open at age 12 in 2007 at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in North Carolina. Now 31, Thompson is on the outside for the first time since before that stunning debut.
"It's hard to believe that in 2007, as a 12-year-old girl with big dreams, I qualified for my first U.S. Women's Open," Thompson wrote
on Instagram on Monday. "At the time, I was just excited to be there. I remember practicing my autograph in the backseat of my parents car on the drive up to @pineneedlesresort! I never could have imagined that week would be the beginning of a career that would take me around the world, allow me to compete against the best players in the game, and help me live out my dream of playing professional golf.
"For the first time since that week, I won't be competing in the U.S. Women's Open. Definitely not a great feeling, I'd be lying if I said otherwise. But I have to remind myself that I've played in 19 in a row at the age of 30, and I'm very proud of that. It's also made me reflect on how much this championship has meant to me. Some of my most special memories, biggest challenges, and greatest lessons have come from this event. It helped shape me not only as a golfer, but as a person."
Thompson, now playing part-time, could have qualified for the event if she was ranked in the top 75 of the Rolex World Rankings, but she was No. 98 at the deadline.
Winning an LPGA event represented another way in. But Thompson's best finish in four events this season was a tie for 12th at the Chevron Championship, also a major, and she missed the cut in two others.
Another opportunity was through U.S. Women's Open qualifying events. Thompson was slated to play in one last month at Naples, Fla., but withdrew a few days ahead of the qualifier to play in an LPGA tourney.
Thompson missed the cut at the past three U.S. Women's Opens. Between 2018-21, she had three top-five finishes in a four-year span.
Thompson seemingly was on her way to the title in 2021 when she held a five-shot lead with nine holes to play. But she collapsed with a 41 on the final nine holes at the Olympic Club in San Francisco and finished third.
Thompson tied for second in 2019 and tied for fifth in 2018. And while Thompson missed the cut at age 12, she tied for 10th at age 15, the first of five top-10 placements at the U.S. Women's Open.
Thompson, who has won 11 LPGA titles, expressed her appreciation to the U.S. Women's Open for being an event that has had a profound effect on her life.
"Even though I'm still playing (a) limited schedule, I realize there are different dreams to focus on in my life anymore, and I'm excited for those phases in my life," Thompson said.
"Thank you, U.S. Women's Open, for being where the dream began. And who knows maybe I'll be at another one in the future. Goodluck to all the ladies this week. #dreambig"
--Field Level Media
