, September 19, 2025
News Summary
Stacy Lewis has announced her retirement from the LPGA Tour, marking the end of a remarkable career that includes 13 LPGA Tour wins and numerous accolades. The recent announcement came ahead of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, a significant event in her career. Lewis, known for her achievements as a collegiate golfer and a representative of the United States at the Olympics, emphasized her reasons for retirement due to physical limitations and a desire to spend more time with family. She leaves behind a legacy that significantly impacted the golf community in Arkansas and beyond.
Rogers — Stacy Lewis Calls Time on a Storied LPGA Run
In a move that has golfers and fans buzzing across the state, Stacy Lewis announced her retirement from the LPGA Tour on September 18, 2025. The announcement came ahead of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, the event that has threaded through her career since the beginning.
From Razorback star to Arkansas legend
Lewis, now 40 years old, leaves behind an undeniable legacy. She is the most decorated female golfer in Arkansas history with 13 LPGA Tour wins, and her name is stitched into the state’s golf story from the college level up through the global stage.
Long before the pro trophies, she built a college resume that reads like a highlight reel. She won 12 collegiate events while playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks and was a four-time All-American. Her early college honors included being named the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2005 and winning the NCAA National Championship in 2007.
The tournament that bookended so much
The NW Arkansas Championship is more than a stop on the calendar for Lewis — it’s part of her story. She was the first winner of the NW Arkansas Championship in 2007 as an amateur; however, the tournament was not declared official due to rain. She would later officially put her name on the NW Arkansas Championship with her victory in 2014.
A steady climb into the pros
Lewis turned professional in 2009 and competed in a total of 7 LPGA Tour events before winning her first LPGA Tour title in 2011. That breakthrough season was massive — her first major victory came in 2011 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and she kept piling up big performances.
She added another major when she won her second major title at the Women’s British Open in 2013 and earned the prestigious year-long honor when she was awarded Rolex Player of the Year in 2012 with three tour wins, three runner-up finishes, and 15 additional Top 10 finishes.
International stage and career highlights
Lewis carried the flag at major international events as well — she represented the United States in the 2016 Olympics. Across a 17-year professional career, she totaled $14 million in career earnings. Her final competitive chapters are already shaping up: her final event will likely be the 2026 Chevron Championship, where she is exempt as a past champion.
Why now? The human side of retirement
At a news conference, Lewis cited physical limitations and a desire to spend more time with her family as reasons for her retirement. She mentioned her struggles with body pain over the last couple of years impacted her ability to practice effectively. She put the reality plainly when she said that My mind still thinks I can hit the shots… but it’s just more the reality of where my body is — a line that tells the whole story in a single breath.
In the emotional swirl around the announcement, fellow Razorback Maria Fassi praised Lewis as a role model and acknowledged the emotional weight of her retirement. Lewis also expressed gratitude and reflection on how her career impacted many people.
What’s next — and one last Arkansas nod
Lewis emphasized her intent to remain involved in golf in some capacity after her retirement. Still, the NW Arkansas Championship will be special: it marks both the start and end of a massive arc in her life. As she plays in this tournament, she will carry an Arkansas Razorbacks bag to honor her roots, a simple gesture that ties her whole story together.
There’s a mix of accomplishment and bittersweet finality here. Lewis’s retirement closes the chapter on an exceptional run: through the wins, the majors, the college dominance, the Olympic moment, and the personal toll, she exits as a defining figure for Arkansas golf and a respected voice in the sport.
FAQ
Q: When did Stacy Lewis announce her retirement?
A: Stacy Lewis announced her retirement from the LPGA Tour on September 18, 2025.
Q: What tournament was involved with the timing of the announcement?
A: The announcement came ahead of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Q: How many LPGA Tour wins did Stacy Lewis have?
A: She is the most decorated female golfer in Arkansas history with 13 LPGA Tour wins.
Q: What were her college achievements?
A: She won 12 collegiate events while playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks and was a four-time All-American. She was named the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2005 and won the NCAA National Championship in 2007.
Q: What is notable about her early connection to the NW Arkansas Championship?
A: She was the first winner of the NW Arkansas Championship in 2007 as an amateur; however, the tournament was not declared official due to rain.
Q: When did she turn professional, and how quickly did she win?
A: Lewis turned professional in 2009 and competed in a total of 7 LPGA Tour events before winning her first LPGA Tour title in 2011.
Q: What major titles did she win?
A: Her first major victory came in 2011 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. She won her second major title at the Women’s British Open in 2013.
Q: What honors did she earn in 2012?
A: In 2012, she was awarded Rolex Player of the Year with three tour wins, three runner-up finishes, and 15 additional Top 10 finishes.
Q: Did she play in the Olympics?
A: Lewis represented the United States in the 2016 Olympics.
Q: Why did she retire?
A: At a news conference, Lewis cited physical limitations and a desire to spend more time with her family as reasons for her retirement. She mentioned her struggles with body pain over the last couple of years impacted her ability to practice effectively. My mind still thinks I can hit the shots… but it’s just more the reality of where my body is.
Q: How long was her professional career and what were her earnings?
A: Lewis’s retirement marks the end of a 17-year professional career in which she won $14 million in career earnings.
Q: What will likely be her final professional event?
A: Her final event will likely be the 2026 Chevron Championship, where she is exempt as a past champion.
Q: Will she stay involved in golf?
A: Lewis emphasized her intent to remain involved in golf in some capacity after her retirement.
Q: How will the NW Arkansas Championship be meaningful to her?
A: The NW Arkansas Championship will be special for Lewis as it commemorates her journey, marking both her start and end in professional golf. As she plays in this tournament, she will carry an Arkansas Razorbacks bag to honor her roots.
Quick Reference Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Retirement announcement | Stacy Lewis announced her retirement from the LPGA Tour on September 18, 2025 |
| Age | 40 years old |
| LPGA Tour wins | 13 LPGA Tour wins |
| College wins | 12 collegiate events while playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks |
| Major victories | Kraft Nabisco Championship (2011), Women’s British Open (2013) |
| Pro career span | 17-year professional career |
| Career earnings | $14 million in career earnings |
| Final likely event | 2026 Chevron Championship (exempt as a past champion) |
| Special tournament | Walmart NW Arkansas Championship — start and end of professional journey |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Carsen Michelucci’s Inspiring Rise in Southwick Golf
Stacy Lewis Bids Farewell to Full-Time LPGA Play
Additional Resources
- WholeHog Sports
- Wikipedia: Stacy Lewis
- 40/29 News
- Google Search: Stacy Lewis retirement LPGA
- Golfweek
- Google Scholar: Stacy Lewis golf
- Golf.com
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Stacy Lewis
- Sports Illustrated
- Google News: Stacy Lewis LPGA
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