"I'm so ready to be done" - LPGA Tour legend in tears after bidding farewell to pro golf

LPGA Tour legend Stacy Lewis bid an emotional farewell to the sport at the first women's major of the year. 

Lewis, 41, announced last September that the 2026 Chevron Championship in Houston, Texas, would represent her last hurrah. 

The former U.S. Solheim Cup captain, who won 13 LPGA Tour titles and two major championships throughout a glittering career, sadly missed the cut at the halfway stage.

She recorded rounds of 79-77 at Memorial Park Golf Club to finish dead last. 

But she told Golf Channel in the immediate aftermath of her final event - where her father carried her clubs for her final hole -  that she was excited for what's next.

"I'm so ready to be done," Lewis said, who was also presented with a bouquet of flowers on the 18th green.

"And this golf course, it just proves it. It was a big test for me this week and I'm excited though.

"I'm ready for what's next in the future and you'll probably see me pop up again in some senior events hopefully in the future. I'm ready. I'm ready for what's next."

Opening up on her decision to retire, Lewis - who is also four months pregnant - added: "I was around some older players when they retired and I saw this just happiness in them. 

"They weren't sad anymore. 

"They didn't miss it and I got to that point early last year where I, I was just, I didn't want to practise as much.

"And I was just thinking about the end and it made me excited instead of sad and so that's really what made the decision for me and of course my daughter being school age, you know, being home is, is a big thing too.

"So [it was] a lot of things, but just my brain was ready for it."

Lewis spent 25 weeks as the world number one and was named the LPGA's player of the year twice (2012, 2014). 

Her two major victories were at the 2011 Chevron Championship and the 2013 Women's Open. 

She represented the United States four times at the Solheim Cup as a player and twice as captain - including their dramatic 15½-12½ victory in Virginia in 2024.

Lewis also finished fourth place at the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

Former world number one Nelly Korda opened up a comfortable lead after 36 holes at the Chevron Championship.

Korda, a two-time major winner, carded a second-round 65 to reach 14-under.

The 2026 Chevron Championship is the fist of five women's majors. 

There is a total purse of $9m, with the winner receiving a cheque for $1,350,000.