News
Lexi Thompson: “I need to have a life”
Lexi Thompson has been a high-level, highly visible professional golfer since she was 15, and her life has been centered around the game since she was five. For we average folk, the pressure inside the ropes and the obligations outside them that such a life engenders are without parallel.
After a particularly grueling stretch, Thompson, arguably the face of the LPGA Tour, was understandably worn down. She took a month-long break from the game and, really, the demands of her celebrity.
The 23-year-old skipped last month’s Ricoh Women’s British Open. She’ll return to competition at this week’s Indy Women in Tech Championship.
“I’m not just a robot out here,” she told reporters ahead of the tournament. “I need to have a life.”
In the past 18 months, the Coral Springs, Florida, native has dealt with her mother’s cancer, the death of her grandmother, and of course, the ANA Inspiration debacle.
“You can only stay strong for so long and hide it,” Thompson said.
Thompson also told reporters she took a trip with friends and shelved her golf clubs for two weeks.
Full press conference, below.
With the second major of 2026 now behind us, the PGA Tour arrives in Texas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
GolfWRX Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, is on site at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, and he’s already captured several WITBs and a look at some new colorways of just-spotted L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #3
WITB Albums
- Brennan Little (Gary Woodland’s caddy) – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adam Svensson – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Martin Laird – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Lee Hodges – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Aaron Wise – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Dylan Wu – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- AJ Ewart – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- New Graphite Design Tour AD shafts – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i putters (new colors) – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Aaron Rai upset the odds to win his first major championship on Sunday at Aronimink, firing a final round of 5-under par to see off his competitors and claim the winner’s check for $3,690,000.
Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley were the best of the chasing pack, with both men sharing runner-up spot which was good enough for each to receive a check for $1,804,000.
With a total prize purse of $20.5 million up for grabs, here’s a look at how much each player won at the 2026 PGA Championship.
Players who missed the PGA Championship cut each received $4,300 each.
1: Aaron Rai, $3,690,000
T2 : Jon Rahm, $1,804,000
T2 : Alex Smalley, $1,804,000
T4: Justin Thomas, $843,866
T4: Ludvig Aberg, $843,866
T4: Matti Schmid, $843,866
T7: Cameron Smith, $637,050
T7: Rory McIlroy, $637,050
T7: Xander Schauffele, $637,050
T10: Kurt Kitayama, $496,707
T10: Chris Gotterup, $496,707
T10: Justin Rose, $496,707
T10: Patrick Reed, $496,707
T14: Matt Fitzpatrick, $364,762
T14: Scottie Scheffler, $364,762
T14: Max Greyserman, $364,762
T14: Ben Griffin, $364,762
T18: Maverick McNealy, $229,128
T18: Jordan Spieth, $229,128
T18: Stephan Jaeger, $229,128
T18: Padraigh Harrington, $229,128
T18: David Puig, $229,128
T18: Harris English, $229,128
T18: Min Woo Lee, $229,128
T18: Joaquin Niemann, $229,128
T26: Nick Taylor, $125,523
T26: Alex Noren, $125,523
T26: Cameron Young, $125,523
T26: Andrew Novak, $125,523
T-26: Daniel Hiller, $125,523
T26: Tom Hoge, $125,523
T26: Sam Burns, $125,523
T26: Hideki Matsuyama, $125,523
T26: Bud Cauley, $125,523
T35: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, $78,805
T35: Patrick Cantlay, $78,805
T35: Ryo Hisatsune, $78,805
T35: Daniel Berger, $78,805
T35: Ryan Fox, $78,805
T35: Haotong Li, $78,805
T35: Aldrich Potgieter, $78,805
T35: Si Woo Kim, $78,805
T35: Martin Kaymer, $78,805
T44: Chris Kirk, $53,743
T44: Matt Wallace, $53,743
T44: Shane Lowry, $53,743
T44: Jhonattan Vegas, $53,743
T44: Denny McCarthy, $53,743
T44: Chandler Blachet, $53,743
T44: Taylor Pendrith, $53,743
T44: Dustin Johnson, $53,743
T44: Nicolai Hojgaard, $53,743
T44: Michael Kim, $53,743
T44: Kristoffer Reitan, $53,743
T55: Collin Morikawa, $34,186
T55: Corey Conners, $34,186
T55: Andrew Putnam, $34,186
T55: Brooks Koepka, $34,186
T55: Mikael Lindberg, $34,186
T60: Sami Valimaki, $29,218
T60: Sahith Theegala, $29,218
T60: Rico Hoey, $29,218
T60: Rickie Fowler, $29,218
T60: Brian Harman, $29,218
T65: Casey Jarvis, $26,900
T65: Jason Day, $26,900
T65: Rasmus Hojgaard, $26,900
T65: Keith Mitchell, $26,900
T65: Sam Stevens, $26,900
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Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldilda Synergy Blue 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 5 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees @14.25) Shaft: Mitsubishi...
Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X Prototype 3-wood: Krank Formula Fire (10 degrees) Shaft: LA Golf BAD...
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James
Jun 28, 2023 at 9:02 pm
Lexi we sure wish her the best and happiness! But, If anyone thinks she can compete with the best by not competing on a regular basis doesn’t get it! If she thinks she can win without that ………someone needs to give her the real talk!!!! Obviously she has made new goals…..
I could help her be a very very good putter or at least where she is way more natural and confident. She is tremendously better for sure right now than she has been. Have one of her handlers send me a email. What would it hurt! Always have fun.
MG
Aug 18, 2018 at 8:46 am
That or she just really hates paying UK taxes and doesn’t like playing the Ladies British…
Bob McNichols
Aug 17, 2018 at 12:28 pm
I remember playing in a Junior-Am in 2009 and the privilege of riding in the Golf car with her that day. She was 14. Living at home in Florida. I asked where she went to school. She said she was home schooled. I asked how she met other kids her age. She said at golf tournaments like the one we were at in Missouri. I felt immediately Lexi and kids like her were being robbed of a childhood and socialization outside of their sport. I was not surprised to read of her burn out at 23 years old and I’m glad she recognized it and is dealing with it for her own good. Congratulations and best wishes to Lexi and kids in all sports who need to have a life outside of their sport while playing and learning about life on the outside of the grueling pace of junior sports and at the highest level they can achieve.
Midwest Blade
Aug 17, 2018 at 11:13 am
She has been on the stage for several years, probably missed a few things over those years when golf at the LPGA level took over. I give her full rights and respect to take a breather. The ladies play for so much less than the men, most of the top players play week after week just to make a decent living which is why I like to follow the Ladies tour, at least you see some of the big stars at just about every tournament.
Southeast super game improvement
Aug 17, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Good call blade. She no doubt appreciated your permission.
Sahil Singh
Aug 17, 2018 at 6:33 am
she takes one tournament off, stating that she wants to work on her life. either she has a really short life to work on or maybe her issues are just too small. Mental strength is lacking. she’s the Rickie Fowler of the LPGA (plus 1 major), one of the most absolutely over rated players on tour.
jeff
Aug 16, 2018 at 1:38 pm
This is such a perspective arguement.
If a magic geenie said you can become a professional athlete right now, yes or no?
EVERYONE would say yes. BUT, being a professional athlete is also very stressful and requires way more work and commitment than most of us are willing to give. It seems like the perfect life but eventually the stress gets to you. So, eventually there will be a breaking point in which you will need some time to yourself.
dj
Aug 16, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Golf is her job. How many of you would just stop working because you wanted a life?
MBA-J
Aug 16, 2018 at 6:18 pm
How many of us have taken a mental day or a quick vacation because we wanted a break? She skipped a tournament…it’s not like she retired.
A. Commoner
Aug 16, 2018 at 7:05 pm
This is dime store novel stuff. Who does not have adversity in their life? Advice: quit what you’re doing, move to Nowhere USA, and get a job in an office clerical pool.
Realist
Aug 16, 2018 at 9:24 pm
You have no idea what they are talking about…u must be happy with ur job!
Scott McDonald
Aug 16, 2018 at 12:41 pm
Maybe cut down on the Instagram pics.
The dude
Aug 16, 2018 at 5:15 pm
Bingo
Brett Weir
Aug 16, 2018 at 12:23 pm
She’s been through a lot these past few months. I’m sure she’ll be ok in the end.
Geohogan
Aug 16, 2018 at 11:41 am
Wish the best for Lexi. Hope that she takes at least 6 months.
Health, including mental health is much more important than golf.
CJ
Aug 16, 2018 at 7:15 am
I met her when she was 14 playing golf all day every day would mess with anyone… period. Other than that… dramatic this is not.
Liberty Apples
Aug 15, 2018 at 10:29 pm
Face of the LPGA tour? Apparently you’ve missed perhaps the greatest transformation of a professional sport in history. You want the face of the LPGA tour? Pick one from South Korea.
gunmetal
Aug 16, 2018 at 1:29 am
“arguably”, so chill out a tad. The best American in any international sport will always have a level of prominence. Not to mention she’s pretty freaking good, too.
millennial82
Aug 16, 2018 at 3:18 pm
what about soccer? oh, maybe that’s too International..
O sh t
Aug 16, 2018 at 2:18 am
Face of the white American female player of the LPGA, yes.
Andrew Reagan Mclaughlin
Aug 16, 2018 at 5:11 am
Black power!
The dude
Aug 16, 2018 at 5:14 pm
……that didn’t take long…