LPGA Legend Stacy Lewis Announces Retirement

The lengthy list of accomplishments that fills out Stacy Lewis's biography provides the facts and figures of her 17-year professional golf career. It barely scratches the surface, however, of the impact and importance of her nearly two decades on the LPGA Tour. The major championships, the rise to No. 1 player in the world, the Solheim Cup victories as a player and captain all tell a story of one of the most consistent and accomplished careers we've seen this century. It's not the full story, though.

Her first official win on Tour just so happened to be a major. The 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship victory wasn't only a breakthrough moment for Lewis. She suddenly became the face of American golf during Yani Tseng's dominant run of play and the influx of Korean talent. She'd be the only American major winner over the next two years. The story behind the breakthrough win is unheard of in the pro golf ranks. In 2003, Lewis underwent back surgery to resolve a scoliosis diagnosis. It took months to relearn basic functions like walking and even longer before she was playing high-level golf again. Eight years of determination and a stubborn refusal to give up culminated in Lewis reaching the pinnacle of the sport.

In the spring of 2013, Lewis became the No. 1 player in the world. Shortly after that, she would win her second major at St. Andrews, becoming at the time just the second woman to do so at the Old Course. An American player at the top of the ranking had a bigger impact off the course than on. Still reeling from the struggles the Great Recession brought to the Tour and the double whammy of Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa retiring, Lewis's work with LPGA leadership was integral in re-signing existing sponsors and bringing on new companies. As Lewis explained on The Mixed Bag earlier this summer, her participation as a KPMG ambassador at corporate outings was the impetus for the company to do more to support women's golf. A few months later, KPMG partnered with the PGA of America to make the KPMG Women's PGA Championship a reality.

There are many more stories of Lewis going above and beyond what's required of a professional golfer. She's donated her winner's check, served on committees, mentored players, and advocated for LPGA moms. She's been unafraid to speak up and be critical, whether it's demanding improvements to the LPGA's schedule, pushing for improved data and statistics, or slamming the PGA's lack of support during the Solheim Cup. When she hangs it up for good at the end of the season, Lewis's presence will be sorely missed on the course, but her impact off of it will continue on.