Marina Alex has decided to retire from professional golf.
She played her last round at the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida, alongside Lexi Thompson and Ally Ewing, who also bid farewell. This decision was unexpected since she recently performed well, finishing sixth at the Maybank Championship, second in Japan, and twelfth in her final event.
But for Alex, it felt like the right moment to step away. She expressed that leaving is tough: “It’s always hard to say goodbye. I know this is what I want and it’s the right decision for me right now. That doesn’t change the fact that this is a life that I built for the last 11 years out here and golf has been my life since I’ve been a kid. So we’re about to enter a new world of a new identity. It’s great, but change is never easy.”
Fans might think she’s brave for making such a big change after so many years.
Future Possibilities
Like Thompson, Alex isn’t closing all doors on returning someday. She said she might try to qualify for events like the US Open if there’s a chance: “Never say never.” Interestingly, she almost quit last year but pushed through those tough times and ended up playing some of her best golf. “Golf doesn’t owe you anything,” she remarked gratefully.
Alex started her pro journey in 2012 on the Symetra Tour before joining LPGA in 2014. Over her career, she claimed victories at the Cambia Portland Classic in 2018 and Palos Verdes Championship in 2022. Her top Major finish was ninth place at the Women’s Open in 2014, and she represented the US at the Solheim Cup in 2019.
This season’s end marked not just Alex’s retirement but also saw Amy Olson stepping back earlier this year due to pregnancy—she called it an “extended maternity leave.”
What do you think about these players stepping away?
