The Meijer LPGA Classic is here, and one of its former champions, Lexi Thompson, has just withdrawn from the event. The 31-year-old was deeply emotional about the withdrawal and revealed the reason behind it.

Thompson won the Meijer LPGA Classic in 2015 and has finished T-4 and T-2 in the past two editions. Thus, this week’s miss comes across as a huge disappointment for the LPGA pro.

"It's hard to put into words how disappointed I am to have had to withdraw from this week," wrote Thompson in an Instagram post.

“The @meijerlpga has always held such a special place in my heart. It’s my favorite event every year, and I’ve made so many incredible memories here throughout my career. The volunteers, staff, sponsors, and everyone involved make this tournament so special, which makes this decision even more heartbreaking,” she added.

Right after South Korea’s Haeji Kang, Thompson becomes the second golfer to withdraw from the Meijer LPGA Classic due to injury.

Thompson cited her lingering hip pain as the reason for her withdrawal. As a result, she will have to wait longer to join Brooke Henderson as the second multiple-time winner of the event. 

“I’m heading home now to take the time I need to focus on healing and getting my body where it needs to be,” Thompson wrote.

24-year-old Anne Chen replaced her in the lineup. Thompson’s appearance at next week's KPMG Women's PGA at Hazeltine National is now up in the air. 

Thompson cuts an iconic figure in women’s golf. Let’s find out how her career has panned out.

Thompson’s Journey Through Golf So Far

Thompson made history even before joining the LPGA Tour. In 2007, Thompson became the then-youngest-ever golfer to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open at just the age of 12. 

The Florida-born golfer also became the then-youngest-ever winner of an LPGA tournament by winning the Navistar LPGA Classic in 2011 at the age of 16.

Thompson has 11 wins to her name on the LPGA Tour. She lifted her only major title in the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship (now called the Chevron Championship), making her the second youngest LPGA golfer to have won a major at the time. 

Her latest win came back in 2019 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, which she won by one stroke over South Korea’s Lee Jeong-eu.

What are your thoughts on Thompson’s withdrawal? Share them in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi