The rollercoaster career of Lexi Thompson has had its fair share of dizzying highs and gut-wrenching lows. A child prodigy who turned professional at age 15, Thompson took the golf world by storm when she won her first LPGA event in 2011 at just 16 years old. What followed was a meteoric rise into the upper echelon of women’s golf, racking up 12 LPGA wins by age 23 and becoming the second-youngest golfer ever to win an ANA Inspiration Major.
But the wheels fell off for Thompson in 2017
She was handed a controversial 4-stroke penalty at the ANA Inspiration that cost her the title and a looming rules violation controversy hung over her head like a dark cloud. In the ensuing years, Thompson failed to recapture the effortless excellence that once came so easy during her teenage phenom days.
The big question on all golf fans’ minds is: can Lexi Thompson rewrite her legacy with a comeback season for the ages in 2024?
At only 28 years old, time is very much on Lexi’s side to regain her former glory. The talent and potential for greatness still exists within her – we’ve seen flashes of the vintage Lexi over the past couple seasons. But she has lacked the trademark mental fortitude and resilience that pushed her to the peak of the sport.
If Thompson can rediscover her inner grit in 2024, we could witness the beginning of her journey back to the pinnacle of women’s golf.
The Key Ingredients for A Lexi Thompson Comeback Year
So what will it take for Lexi Thompson to dominate the LPGA Tour again in 2024 like she did early on in her career? Based on studying legendary golf comebacks from icons like Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan, here are the keys for Lexi to rewrite her legacy:
- Renewed Mental Toughness & Resiliency
Thompson has all the physical tools and talents to compete with the top players in the world. Her best game can hang with anyone. But golf is arguably more of a mental game than physical. For Lexi to get back on top, she needs to rebuild her mental fortitude to overcome adversity and finish tournaments strong.
- Dialed-In Putting
Putting has always been the weak point in Thompson’s game. In her breakout years, she found ways to hole crucial putts when she needed it most. But her putting has declined in recent seasons. To start racking up wins again, Lexi needs to regain her putting magic touch to shoot consistently low scores.
- Killer Instinct
During Lexi’s dominant run, she had a killer instinct to go for the jugular when she got into contention. She needs to regain that aggressive, attacking mindset and the confidence to pull off the spectacular shots under pressure. Playing it safe or passively won’t lead to trophies and championships.
- Consistency & Momentum
Finally, the best players string together good tournaments week in and week out. They don’t just show up and play their A-Game occasionally. For Lexi to establish herself as a dominant, intimidating force again, some early season success and consistency can go a long way towards rebuilding her confidence and momentum.
The Comeback Begins…
Lexi Thompson always had the look of a star destined for greatness. And even though she veered off course the past few years, legends like Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods have shown amazing comeback stories are very much possible in golf.
For Thompson, the 2024 LPGA season may just be the launching pad she needs to rediscover her past magic and launch her full-fledged return to the top of women’s golf. We know the talent and ability is there waiting to be unleashed again. It’s time for Lexi to rewrite her story.
