Can’t believe the USGA can’t give her a 1 time exemption if she wanted to play?
Lexi Thompson has been playing in the U.S. Women’s Open since she was 12 years old. She will not play in the 2026 tournament, marking the end of a legendary streak.
On Instagram she posted:
“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 Pine Needles! 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.”