The US Women’s Open will have a different feel this week as Lexi Thomson’s extraordinary record comes to an end…

Since her seismic breakthrough as a child prodigy two decades ago, Lexi Thompson has built up one of the more remarkable streaks of longevity in professional golf.

Thompson has not missed a single US Women’s Open since 2007, when she was 12 years old.

The American’s record of 19 consecutive appearances is tied with Amy Yang as the longest active streak in the major. That of course, is made all the more impressive by the fact Thompson set the record as the youngest player in history to qualify when she stunned the game by making her debut all those years ago at Pine Needles in North Carolina.

This week, the US Open heads to Riviera Country Club – the revered host of the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour – but there will be a distinctly different feel about this pre-eminent major in Los Angeles.

There will be no Lexi.

The 31-year-old, who announced two years ago that she was stepping away from the full-time grind of professional golf, has failed to qualify after withdrawing from a recent qualifier in Naples, Florida.

“It’s hard to believe that in 2007, as a 12-year-old girl with big dreams, I qualified for my first US Women’s Open,” Thompson wrote in an emotional Instagram post.

“At the time, I was just excited to be there. I remember practicing my autograph in the backseat of my parents car on the drive up to @pineneedlesresort!

“I never could have imagined that week would be the beginning of a career that would take me around the world, allow me to compete against the best players in the game, and help me live out my dream of playing professional golf.

“For the first time since that week, I won’t be competing in the US Women’s Open. Definitely not a great feeling, I’d be lying if I said otherwise. But I have to remind myself that I’ve played in 19 in a row at the age of 30, and I’m very proud of that.

“It’s also made me reflect on how much this championship has meant to me. Some of my most special memories, biggest challenges, and greatest lessons have come from this event. It helped shape me not only as a golfer, but as a person.

“I’m incredibly grateful for every year I had the opportunity to be part of it, and for all of the fans, family, friends, volunteers, and supporters who have been with me along the way.

“Even though I’m still playing limited schedule, I realize there are different dreams to focus on in my life, and I’m excited for those phases in my life.

“Thank you, US Women’s Open, for being where the dream began and who knows maybe I’ll be at another one in the future. Good luck to all the ladies this week.”

When Thompson announced her ‘retirement’ in 2024, many assumed that her time among the game’s elite had been over, but her appearances have been more than sporadic since then. She played in three majors last season and finished in a tie for 12th at this year’s Chevron Championship.

But having slipped outside the top 75 in the Rolex Rankings, qualification is no longer a sure thing for one of the game’s superstars.

The 11-time LPGA Tour winner has not made a cut at the US Women’s Open since 2022 back at Pine Needles. Perhaps we really have now seen Thompson on the biggest stage for the final time.