Lexi Thompson Withdraws From KPMG Women's PGA Championship

There's a particular ache that comes with watching a champion step back from the stage before she's ready. When news broke on June 22 that Lexi Thompson had withdrawn from the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, it carried that familiar weight—the kind that settles in your chest when you know you're witnessing the slow, painful unwinding of something beautiful.

The Hip That Won't Cooperate

Thompson, the 31-year-old American who has been a fixture in women's professional golf for nearly two decades, continues to battle a hip injury that forced her out of the Meijer LPGA Classic just days earlier. Spain's Carolina Chacarra will take her place in the field for the third major of the LPGA season.

In an Instagram post on June 18, Thompson was characteristically candid about her decision to withdraw from Michigan: "Unfortunately, the pain in my hip reached a point where I knew I wasn't able to compete. As difficult as it was, withdrawing before the tournament began was the only decision I could make."

Those words could easily apply to Hazeltine as well. The 11-time LPGA Tour winner and 2014 Chevron Championship champion has been a consistent presence at this event, tying for 12th in 2025 and finishing ninth in 2024. Her absence will be felt in the Minnesota air.

A Season of Selective Starts and Mounting Frustrations

Thompson announced last year that she would step away from a full-time LPGA schedule, and her 2026 campaign has reflected that shift with painful clarity. She has made just six starts this season, with a tie for 12th at the Chevron Championship representing her best result.

But the statistics only tell part of the story. Earlier this month, Thompson failed to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open, missing the championship for the first time since 2007 and ending a remarkable run of 19 consecutive appearances. For a player who burst onto the professional scene as a teenager, who has given so much of herself to this game, each withdrawal now carries amplified significance.

No timeline has been given for her return. The uncertainty hangs in the air like morning fog that refuses to burn off.

What Remains at Hazeltine

The show, as they say, must go on. Hazeltine National will host a formidable field even without one of its most recognizable names. World number one Nelly Korda arrives as the clear favorite after winning four LPGA titles in 2026, including back-to-back major victories at the Chevron Championship and U.S. Women's Open. Defending champion Minjee Lee will look to retain her crown on a course that rewards precision and patience in equal measure.

England's Lottie Woad and a deep international contingent add intrigue to the proceedings. The championship will crown a worthy winner, the crowds will roar, and the drama will unfold as it always does at major championships.

But there will be an absence. A particular walk, a distinctive swing, a competitor who has given everything to this game for the better part of two decades. Lexi Thompson won't be teeing it up at Hazeltine, and the tournament is diminished for it—not in quality, perhaps, but in something harder to measure.

The Longer View

I've watched Lexi Thompson compete on three continents. I've seen her hole impossible putts and suffer heartbreaking defeats with the same grace. What strikes me most about this moment isn't the injury itself—athletes deal with injuries constantly—but the context surrounding it.

This is a farewell tour without a clear final destination. Thompson chose to step back on her own terms, but the body hasn't cooperated with the plan. There's something profoundly human about that disconnect between intention and physical reality.

Key Takeaways

Thompson's withdrawal from Hazeltine follows her exit from the Meijer LPGA Classic, both due to ongoing hip issues
Carolina Chacarra of Spain takes Thompson's spot in the field
Six starts in 2026 with a tie for 12th at the Chevron as her best finish reflects Thompson's reduced schedule
No return timeline has been announced, leaving her major championship future uncertain
Nelly Korda enters as the favorite at Hazeltine, seeking her third major of the season