NEW LANCASTER, Pa. Before leaving the score area at Lancaster Country Club, Lexi Thompson walked over to her Cobra staff bag. She just signed for a score of five over par, which meant she would miss the cut. The U.S. Women’s Open was over for her.
People from the USGA’s media team asked her to come to the interview area. Thompson didn’t want to agree at first, but he finally did.
She got up on the raised stage in front of the room and looked out at the group of reporters standing there. She has been fighting in her country’s national championship for 17 years, so this was a routine she knew very well.
The woman said, “Of course I didn’t want to play golf.” “But, of course, it was a big week because I told everyone what I did.”
“What I did” she was talking about was her shocking news on Tuesday that she would no longer play professionally after the season. But Thompson wasn’t very clear about what might happen next. She did say that her last U.S. Women’s Open would probably be held at Lancaster Country Club.
Thompson has been a fan favourite for a long time. In an ideal world, he would have turned back the clock and put on a vintage show that would have made the Amish Country crowd go crazy. The ends of stories don’t always work out, though, and this one wasn’t an exception. She missed the cut after 36 rounds, which was the end of her week. There was nothing left to do but think about the past.
What does it mean to you to share this moment with your family this week?
“It meant a lot to me.” She said through tears, “I’m so lucky and thankful to have such a wonderful family.” “I’m thankful for my family and for…”
Thompson took a moment to calm down while a USGA employee gave her a box of tissues. It was hard to hold back the tears after fifteen years of ups and downs.
What does it mean to you to share this moment with your family this week?
“It meant a lot to me.” She said through tears, “I’m so lucky and thankful to have such a wonderful family.” “I’m thankful for my family and for…”
Thompson took a moment to calm down while a USGA employee gave her a box of tissues. It was hard to hold back the tears after fifteen years of ups and downs.
Her guess turned out to be right. That week, Thompson didn’t make the cut, but it didn’t take long for her to become famous. After three years, when she was 15, she went pro. She wasn’t yet qualified to join the LPGA Tour, but she finished in the top 10 of the U.S. Women’s Open that summer. She won on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours the following year.
She had already had so much success at such a young age that it wasn’t a matter of if she would win a major, but when and how many.
But as golf often teaches us, success doesn’t always go in a straight line, and there’s no such thing as a sure thing.
That doesn’t mean Thompson didn’t do well. By the end of the decade, she had won 11 times, including a major at the Dinah Shore. She was one of the most famous women in golf history. She could have become the next great American major winner, but instead her name became linked to sadness.
Thompson was docked four strokes during her final round at the 2017 ANA Inspiration (now the Chevron Championship) because she had put her ball back on the green the wrong way the day before. Since she broke the rule, she lost her second major title in a playoff to So Yeon Ryu later that same day.
In the U.S. Women’s Open four years later, Thompson had a four-shot lead going into the back nine at Olympic Club on Sunday, but she shot 41 on the back nine and missed the playoff. That summer, she was ahead by two shots with three holes to go, but she bogeyed two of the last three holes and lost by one stroke to In Gee Chun.
The time between wins grew from months to years. The once-unmissable ability became a symbol of “what-ifs.” Soon, more young golfers with great skills joined the Tour, and Thompson’s name at the top of the leaderboards stopped being normal and more of a surprise.
The big news about the 79th U.S. Women’s Open came out Tuesday morning. As the range came to life and filled with some of the best performers in the world, phones started to ring and whispers started to spread.
Have you heard about Lexi?
It had been seventeen years since the 12-year-old girl in ladybird earrings and a pink visor won the hearts of golf fans everywhere and chose to quit her job. After a few hours, she went in front of the press to talk about her choice to retire.
There were tears at the press conference. Not only because of what Thompson did, but also because she was so open.
She tried not to cry as she said, “Being out here can be a lot.” “It can be lonely.” I’m sorry if I get upset. I said I wasn’t going to.
Thompson is one of the most well-known golfers on Tour, but becoming famous cost him something. People have been interested in her since she was young, and she’s been hurt by loss more times than she can remember. The wrestler Lexi Thompson is the same person as Lexi Thompson. The stress of having to do both of those things has worn me down.
She said, “I just think that a lot of people don’t understand what we go through as professional athletes, especially with what’s been going on in golf lately.” “I’m not going to say, ‘Have a pity party for me,'” I don’t want that at all. It’s what we love to do. Everything we do, we try our best every day. We’re not perfect, you know. We are people. Words hurt. Sometimes it’s hard to get through.
That contrast between Lexi the athlete and Lexi the person was clear during both rounds at Lancaster Country Club. The golfer struggled through two rounds of average golf and looked upset and angry about her performance at the biggest women’s golf event. The person made sure to smile at her young fans in the gallery to show her thanks for all the years they had supported her.
Thompson said, “Seeing all the fans out there and hearing them chant things like ‘Go Lexis!’ made me smile every single shot, even though I kept making bogeys.” “But without a doubt, it was a special week.”
On the ninth green, where she tapped in for bogey, the crowd cheered for one more beat. Fans of golf may never see Thompson in this setting again, so they didn’t want to miss the chance.
Thompson walked back to the putting green and said hello to her family after her presser was over and the tears had dried. They have been there for her through all of her career’s ups and downs. Her rock.
Having her family with her meant the world to her, she said. “I’m thankful and blessed to have such a wonderful family.” I’m just thankful for my family… That’s all we want—my family, my friends, and all the fans who came out this week. That’s how we want golf to grow.
What will happen next in Lexi Thompson’s life? It’s still not clear what the answer is; she hasn’t been clear about the future. Of course, there will be more golf at some point, but fans won’t get as much Lexi as they have for almost twenty years.
“I don’t have any plans for after this year,” she said. “I’ll miss how competitive it is to be out here and all the friends I’ve made along the way.”
She said goodbye to her family and then walked back towards the 18th green with two protectors following her. She had one more thing to do before she could go home: she had to sign autographs for the people who had been there for her the whole time.
That was Lexi Thompson’s sad message after she missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open.
FAQ’s
Q1: Why is it called the Country Club?
Answer: The Country Club of Brookline, which is close to Boston, Massachusetts, was the first Country Club in the United States. It was called “The Country Club” because most of the members knew each other from other clubs in the city. It was in the middle of nowhere.
Q2: What is a country club member?
Answer: A private country club is an organisation where people can join to play golf, have fun, and socialise. A lot of clubs have big buildings with great golf fields, restaurants, pro shops, and other things. There are groups that call themselves country clubs. Some people call themselves golf clubs.
Q3: What does it cost to join the LA Country Club?
Answer: Being a member of the Los Angeles Country Club is a very prestigious honour that costs a lot of money. People who want to join must pay initiation fees that start at $250,000 and yearly dues that range from $20,000 to $30,000.
Q4: Can I wear jeans to a country club?
Answer: You can wear jeans. You can’t wear trainers or athletic clothes. Women should dress appropriately. Country Club Casual: This style includes everything in “Smart Casual,” as well as trainers and clothes for golf and tennis (as described in this yearbook).
Q5: Can girls wear jeans to the club?
Answer: If the dress code is casual, wear heels with cargo pants or tight jeans. For extra style, wear them with a crop top or high neck top. It was items like necklaces, earrings, bags, and more that made the casual look possible. Just be brave and wear lots of accessories!
Q6: Can you wear a skirt to a club?
Answer: A crop top and skirt together is a stylish and flexible outfit for going to the club. For a stylish, young look, wear a crop top with sequins or metal accents with a high-waisted skirt. Don’t forget that balance is key. If your top is flashy, choose a skirt that isn’t as flashy, and the other way around.
