In the end there were tears for Lexi Thompson. But then again how could there not be. When you’ve had the impressive 13-year career that she has had on the LPGA Tour and you’re saying goodbye to playing on a full-time basis, the emotions will follow.

To her credit, the 29-year-old closed things out at the CME Group Tour Championship with a great up and down. After hitting her approach into a greenside bunker on the ninth hole at Tiburon Golf Club, Thompson hit her third shot perfectly, the ball coming to rest two feet from the hole. And as she walked on the green, that’s when she started to well up.

Thompson’s farewell has been coming June, when at the U.S. Women’s Open she announced that she would be retiring from full-time LPGA play. She has had a big role in women’s golf for more than half of her life. She commanded attention from a young age, by qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open as a 12-year-old. Not every prodigy ends up making it on tour, but Thompson created a full career for herself. She played in seven Solheim Cups and has won 11 times on the LPGA Tour, including one major, the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

It wasn’t all rosy. There was a called-in rules incident in 2017 at the ANA Inspiration that resulted in a four-shot penalty and cost her a major championship. And she also spent time away from the game to better her mental health. When she has spoken about the harder parts of her career this season, it’s apparent that the scar tissue of the hard times is still there for Thompson.

Through all of it, she gained fans of all ages. But she really resonated with young girls. With her powerful play, fun outfits, and the time she spent signing autographs, she made young girls love golf.

So when she played her final round at the CME—shooting a closing 74 to finish tied for 49th on the week, she hoped to have fans there to celebrate the moment with her. Due to Thompson not playing a full schedule going forward, she likely won’t qualify for the CME again.

Her farewell was deflated a bit because it occurred on the ninth green, not the 18th. Groups went off of both the first and 10th tees on Sunday to make sure play finished on time. The way that the numbers shook out meant Thompson would started on No. 10, not No. 1.

When Thompson learned she’d be finishing on No.9, she took to Instagram to express her dissatisfaction.

“Pretty sad when you’re at -4 in the season-ending event, which could easily be the last CME of your career and you won’t even finish on #18 because they decide to double tee on the final day due to TV coverage window,” wrote in an Instagram story. “Bummed I won’t be able to embrace all the incredible fans on 18 tomorrow as I finish, hopefully, some will be out there on #9. But just know I’m grateful for you all.”

When she holed her par putt on the ninth hole, she hugged her brother, Nick, who was caddying for her. Other family members and LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan greeted her as she left the green. With flowers in her hands, she waved goodbye to life on the LPGA Tour.

“I think I’ll miss the fans, playing in front of them,” Thompson said after the round. “I keep on repeating that, but the fans are the reason I’ve made it this far and the support of my family and loved ones. But having them alongside me every time I tee it up out here has meant so much.”

Main Image: Scott Taetsch