Lexi Thompson, a former major champion, missed the cut at the ANA Inspiration after struggling with scores of 78-74. This performance continues a trend of poor play at majors, with Thompson averaging 74.4 over her last seven starts. Despite her past success at majors, including multiple runner-up finishes, Thompson has struggled to contend in recent years.
Thompson’s best results at majors include losing a five-shot lead at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open and surrendering a lead at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Since then, Thompson has only made one major cut at the Women’s PGA last year. Her inconsistent play has been a concern for the 29-year-old, but she has shown flashes of her potential with strong finishes in recent tournaments.
Other notable players who missed the cut at the ANA Inspiration include Jin Young Ko, Angela Stanford, Stacy Lewis, Alison Lee, Patty Tavatanakit, Rose Zhang, So Yeon Ryu, Minjee Lee, and Danielle Kang. These players, including former major champions and top-ranked players, struggled to make the weekend due to various reasons such as poor play or bad luck on the course.
Ryu, a former World No. 1 and major champion, announced her retirement following the tournament. Despite missing the cut, Ryu remained positive and grateful for her time on the LPGA Tour. Her fellow players showed their support for her as she walked off the 18th green, highlighting the camaraderie and respect among professional golfers on the tour.
Thompson’s struggles at majors raise questions about her ability to contend at the highest level of competition. While she has shown flashes of her potential with strong finishes in recent tournaments, her inconsistency at majors is a concern. As she continues to work on her game and improve her performance, Thompson will need to find a way to overcome the mental and physical challenges of competing at the highest level of professional golf.
The ANA Inspiration provided a platform for players to showcase their talent and compete against the best in the world. While some players, like Thompson, struggled to make the cut, others rose to the occasion and performed well under pressure. As the tournament concluded, it was a reminder of the competitiveness and challenges that come with playing at the highest level of professional golf.
Overall, the ANA Inspiration was a test of skill, mental toughness, and resilience for the players who competed. While some players fell short of their expectations, others exceeded them and showed that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. As the golf season continues, players like Lexi Thompson will look to learn from their experiences at the ANA Inspiration and improve their performance in future tournaments.
