Lexi Thompson leaves the US Women’s Open in tears

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) – Lexi Thompson stopped on the side of the ninth green after hitting what might be her last shot – a three-inch putt – at the US Women’s Open. It was just like any other round until she headed to the scoring room.

“We’re going to miss you, Lexi,” one fan shouted above the applause.

This is not the way he wanted to go — a 78 in Thursday’s opening round, four straight bogeys around the turn on Friday that doomed any hopes of making the cut and a 75 for a 13-over par total.

And there was a part of her that wished she could stop talking about her announcement earlier in the week that, at age 29, this would be her last year on a full schedule.

Thompson made her Women’s Open debut as a 12-year-old in 2007 at Pine Needles. That led to a question about what the 12-year-old would say to her.

“I’d say probably enjoy life,” she said as emotion began to creep into her voice. “Be grateful for everything you have in your life. Enjoy every experience you can just by being here.”

Moments later, she stopped in mid-sentence as her voice choked, turned to the moderator and whispered harshly, “I knew I shouldn’t have done that.”

He was given a box of tissues and struggled.

“It’s going to be a big week. Just to have my family and friends and the amount of fans that were there this week, that’s what we want,” she said. “That’s what we want the game of golf to grow. Every tournament, I hope they continue to do it, whether they do it or not.”

Although she spoke of being happy with her decision to quit, it was unclear what Thompson had in mind. She still plans to play the rest of the year. Her biggest hope is to make the seventh Solheim Cup team this fall.

As for the US Women’s Open, barring a stronger performance — Thompson has gone nearly five years without a win — she would not be exempt next year.

The USGA could offer a special exemption, but has mostly limited them to former champions from the past two decades, barring a special achievement such as Rose Zhang a year ago or Michelle Wie in 2006 before joining LPGA Tour and finished on the LPGA Tour. top five in two majors.

“As far as beyond this year, I don’t have any plans right now,” she said.

But Thompson said she will get home and work hard on her practice session for a three-week stretch that includes the next major, the KPMG Women’s PGA at Sahalee.

Her world ranking is 54th.

Asked what she wouldn’t miss from a full schedule, Thompson smiled and said waking up at 5:30 a.m. after finishing at 8:30 p.m. the night before, like what she faced Friday.

“I would miss the competitiveness of just being here and all the friendships I made along the way,” she said. “What I won’t miss is being able to sleep in and not have to rush to the golf course for an hour of play and have that every day of my life.

“It’s nice to have a balance,” she said. “But I absolutely loved it, every bit of it. There have been tougher times than others, but that’s all I’ve known.”

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Doug Ferguson, Associated Press