Stacy Lewis Sheds a ‘Selfish’ Lexi Thompson Reason Despite the Solheim Cup Hero’s Heart-wrenching Retirement Plan

“Let’s go, team!” This is what the US captain, Stacy Lewis, and the European captain, Suzann Pettersen, must be preparing to tell their teams as the 2024 Solheim Cup approaches. One of the most prominent parts of the US team for the Solheim Cup has been Lexi Thompson and Stacy Lewis did not back down from accepting that.

Lexi Thompson’s ascent in professional golf has been nothing short of spectacular, marked by her fearless debut at the Solheim Cup and her subsequent emergence as a pillar of the American team. As the U.S. captain attests, Thompson’s influence transcends mere performance; it’s her integrity, her unwavering dedication, and her quiet leadership that makes her indispensable.

Praising Thompson’s strong mindset, Lewis said, “Definitely one where I feel like I can tell her anything, and it’s not going to affect how she plays.” The 29-year-old’s journey embodies a blend of triumphs and challenges, shaping her into a revered figure. With the 2024 Solheim Cup and Thompson’s retirement approach, her one last presence is going to be crucial for the team, according to Lewis.

Although she knows that the 29-year-old’s split from the sport will hurt the US team’s future in the Solheim Cup, she is glad that Thompson is going to be present for one more appearance in the Solheim Cup: “I’m selfishly glad she’s sticking around for one more.” Lexi Thompson has been a part of the US team for six times. Owing to her several appearances, the US captain said, “She’s just one I can ask her opinion, and she’s going to give me an honest opinion, and she knows it stays between us, but it helps me make decisions.”

Lewis believes in Thompson and although she’s currently neither one of the top two golfers in the world nor she’s nowhere near the top 7 players list in the Solheim Cup standing list before the qualifying period ends. But from the way Lewis talks about her, it seems she will be one of the three captain’s choices. Thompson’s last year’s performance in Spain has had Lewis praising her a lot.

How did Lexi Thompson do in the 2023 Solheim Cup?
Overall, the eleven-time LPGA Tour winner went 3-1 at the 2023 Solheim Cup. The only defeat came during the first day of Fourballs when she was paired with Lilia Vu. But before that, she and Megan Khang defeated the team of Maja Stark, and Linn Grant in the opening round of Foursomes. Coming to day two, she appeared just in the next Foursome round, once again teaming up with Megan Khang. The result was the same as they defeated the European side, Anna Nordqvist and Leona Maguire.

During the final day singles round, Lexi Thompson shone once again with a 2-and-1 victory over Denmark’s Emily Pedersen. Owing to her last year’s performance in the Solheim Cup, Stacy Lewis said, “I keep harping on it, but what she did last year in Spain, from the way she was playing and how she worked on her game and got it ready and went out there and played some unbelievable golf in Spain.”

With such strong remarks from the US captain, it seems that Lexi Thompson will be able to play in the Solheim Cup one last time. But will she be able to replicate her last year’s performance or do even better than that?