Lexi Thompson’s Major Struggles Continue at Carlton Woods
A decade after her breakthrough victory at the 2014 ANA Inspiration, Lexi Thompson’s once-promising major career took another hit as she failed to make the cut at the same event, now known as the Chevron Championship, held at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas. Thompson’s disappointing performance marked her sixth missed cut at a major in her last seven starts, reflecting a stark decline in her form on the grandest stages of women’s golf.
Thompson’s troubles at Carlton Woods signify a significant departure from her previous decade of consistency at majors. During this period, she had secured at least one top-five finish at a major every season from 2013 to 2022, including four runner-up finishes, showcasing her prowess on the biggest stages in golf.
However, the 29-year-old’s major success has been marred by missed opportunities, notably at the 2017 ANA Inspiration, where she controversially incurred a four-stroke penalty after a viewer’s email alerted officials to a rules violation during the third round, ultimately losing in a playoff to So Yeon Ryu.
Despite her near-misses, Thompson’s bid for a second major title has faltered, including a heartbreaking collapse at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, where she squandered a five-shot lead on the back nine to finish third, and a missed opportunity at the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, surrendering a two-shot lead with three holes to play and settling for a tie for second place.
Since her struggles at the Congressional Blue Course, Thompson’s major performances have been inconsistent, with her only made cut coming at last year’s Women’s PGA Championship, where she rallied with four birdies in the closing holes of her second round to secure a place in the weekend field, ultimately finishing tied for 47th.
Despite her major setbacks, Thompson showed glimpses of her potential with strong finishes towards the end of last season, including a solid showing at the Solheim Cup and top-10 finishes in her final three starts of the campaign, signaling a potential resurgence in her game.
In the early stages of the 2024 season, Thompson continued to show signs of improvement with a third-place finish at the Ford Championship three weeks ago, providing hope that she may yet rediscover her winning form on the LPGA Tour.
However, her recent struggles at the Chevron Championship, alongside other notable players like Jin Young Ko, highlight the challenges faced by elite golfers in maintaining consistency and performing at their best on the biggest stages of the sport. As Thompson looks to bounce back from her major disappointments, her journey towards redemption will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.
