Golf sweetheart Lexi returns to LPGA

LEXI Thompson isn’t done yet.

In a move that’s sending shockwaves through the LPGA Tour, Lexi Thompson has confirmed her return to competitive golf next week, just months after retiring at the end of the 2024 season.

The 29-year-old Floridian, who made headlines with her announcement last May to step away from full-time golf, is set to tee it up once again at the 2025 Founders Cup, which will take place from February 6-9 at the Bradenton Country Club in her home state.

Thompson’s retirement had seemed like the end of an era, but in a twist that shocked no one who knows the competitive fire that burns within her, she hinted at a return to the tour she first graced at the age of 12. And now, she’s back.

This comeback marks Thompson’s first official LPGA event in 2025, and her qualification was secured by finishing 50th in last season’s CME points list. It will also be her second appearance at The Founders Cup, where she tied for 16th last year.

While Thompson has not yet revealed her schedule beyond The Founders Cup, speculation is rife that she’s eyeing the season’s first major—the Chevron Championship—after admitting in November that the tournament is high on her radar. She is exempt from qualifying due to her past major win and called it a “special” event.

“Even though it’s a different venue and sponsor now, it’s still a memory that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life getting my first major win at that event,” Thompson said. “It’s very special to me. It will definitely be one of the ones I think about playing for sure.”

Thompson won’t be the only former champion making a return next week.

Two-time major champion Brittany Lincicome, 39, who also announced her departure from full-time competition in November, has been granted a sponsor exemption and will join Thompson in the field.

Lincicome, who boasts eight LPGA Tour wins, will be back in action at the $2 million event, adding another layer of intrigue to the competition.

With two major champions returning to the fold, The Founders Cup is shaping up to be a must-watch event, and Thompson’s comeback is sure to be one of the most talked-about storylines of the season.