Lexi Thompson has been in the spotlight since she was a literal child. At 12, she was playing the U.S. Women’s Open, sporting a ponytail and a swing that looked like it belonged on a seasoned veteran. Because she’s been famous for nearly two decades, there are millions of lexi thompson golf photos floating around the internet. But if you look closely at the archives, you start to see a story that isn't just about trophies or those famous leaps into Poppie's Pond.
It’s about a career that was as much a grind as it was a highlight reel.
Honestly, the way we consume images of athletes today is sorta weird. We see a high-res shot of Lexi hitting a 300-yard drive and we think "power." We see her crying at the 2024 U.S. Women's Open and we think "retirement." But the space between those photos is where the real Lexi Thompson exists.
The Evolution of the "Lexi Swing" in Pictures
If you go back to images from 2007 or 2010, Lexi’s swing was a thing of raw, unrefined beauty. She’s six feet tall. That’s a lot of lever to move around. In early photos, you’ll notice her feet almost coming off the ground—the "Lexi jump." It became her signature.
By the time she won her major at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship, her form had stabilized, but the power was still terrifying for her opponents.
- The 2011 Navistar Win: Look for photos of her here. She was 16. She looks like a kid who just won a science fair, except she’d just dismantled a professional field.
- The 2023 Shriners Children's Open: These are some of the coolest lexi thompson golf photos because she’s competing against the men on the PGA Tour. The focus in her eyes in those shots? Different level.
The cameras caught her transition from a "phenom" to a "veteran" before she even turned 25. That’s a heavy burden. You can see it in the way she interacts with the lens over the years. Early on, it’s all smiles. Later, there’s a stoicism that only comes from being scrutinized by millions of people since middle school.
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Why That 2017 ANA Inspiration Photo Still Stings
We have to talk about the controversy. If you search for Lexi Thompson images, you’ll eventually find shots from the 2017 ANA Inspiration.
She was leading. She was dominant. Then, a viewer at home emailed in about a ball-marking infraction from the day before.
The photos of Lexi walking off the green after being told she had a four-stroke penalty are gut-wrenching. She’s staring into the middle distance, basically in shock. Most players would have folded. Lexi? She forced a playoff. She lost that playoff to So Yeon Ryu, but the images of her hugging Ryu afterward showed more about her character than any trophy ceremony ever could.
The "Lexi Rule" was eventually created because of this, ensuring that armchair officials couldn't ruin tournaments from their living rooms anymore.
The Retirement Shift: 2024 and Beyond
When Lexi announced she was stepping away from full-time golf in May 2024, the types of photos being taken changed. They became more "human."
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People started focusing on her interactions with fans. Lexi is famous for staying hours after a round—literally until the sun goes down—signing autographs. There are great photos of her handing over her golf shoes or her glove to a kid in the front row.
What’s she doing now?
Even though she’s "retired" from the full-time grind, she isn't gone.
- She played the 2025 Founders Cup in Florida.
- She’s been seen doing things like dog sledding in Canada (yes, there are photos of that too).
- She’s focusing on her "Lexi Fitness" app.
The latest lexi thompson golf photos show a woman who looks... relieved. The pressure of being the "face of American golf" for 15 years is gone. She’s still got the power, but the weight on her shoulders seems to have lifted.
The Technical Side of Her Game (The Stuff the Photos Show)
If you're a golf nerd, look at the still shots of her at impact.
Lexi hits the ball with an incredibly shallow "angle of attack" for a long hitter. Most people who bomb it like she does have a very steep downswing. She doesn't. She sweeps it. This is why she’s so good on firm courses but sometimes struggles when the conditions are soft and she can't get that "thump" into the turf.
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Also, check out her putting grip. It changed a dozen times. Photos from 2017 show her using a very specific "claw" or cross-handed style. By 2023, she was experimenting again. The photos document the struggle of a player who had every tool in the bag except for a consistent flat stick.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking for the best way to follow her "semi-retirement" or find high-quality imagery, don't just stick to Google Images.
- Follow the LPGA's official "Celebrating the Green" series. They’ve done incredible retrospectives on her career with photos you won't find on social media.
- Check Getty Images’ editorial section. If you want to see the technical side of her swing, filter for "sporting sequence" shots.
- Keep an eye on her 2025 schedule. She’s already confirmed she’ll play a handful of events. The Chevron Championship (the old ANA) is almost certainly on her list.
Lexi Thompson isn't just a golfer; she’s a case study in what happens when you're a star before you're an adult. Her photos tell a story of resilience, and honestly, the sports world is better off for having had her in the mix for so long. She’s been a role model for a generation of girls who realized they could hit it just as far as the boys.
To really understand her legacy, stop looking at the scorecards and start looking at the faces of the kids she meets after the 18th hole. That's the real Lexi.
Next Steps:
Go look up the video of her 2024 retirement press conference. Watch it alongside the photos of her winning the 2014 Kraft Nabisco. The contrast in her maturity and her perspective on life is the most impressive thing she’s ever achieved in the sport.