Three-time LPGA winner Ally Ewing, 31, announces retirement on heels of Solheim Cup victory
As the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship draws near, Ally Ewing, a name synonymous with perseverance, skill, and unmatched grit on the LPGA circuit, has chosen this moment to reveal her plans for the next chapter in her life. In a heartfelt Instagram video, the 31-year-old golfer announced her upcoming retirement from professional golf, marking the end of a remarkable era for one of the sport’s most consistent and tenacious players.
This announcement, however, comes with a bittersweet twist for her fans, as Ewing, currently ranked 18th in the world, prepares to step away while still at the height of her powers. With three LPGA victories under her belt, multiple Solheim Cup appearances, and a career that’s spanned over a decade, Ewing leaves behind a legacy defined by both her achievements and the unique journey she took to reach the top.
Ewing began her story in the small, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town of Fulton, Mississippi. Born into a place with a population of just 4,500 people, where dreams of sporting greatness may have seemed far-fetched, Ewing’s childhood was grounded in humility. Yet, it was on the hilly, nine-hole layout of Fulton Country Club— a modest course lacking even a driving range— that Ewing honed the craft that would ultimately launch her into the elite ranks of professional golf. Alongside childhood friend Chad Ramey, who would later make his own mark on the PGA Tour, Ewing improvised her way through practice sessions, creating makeshift ranges across fairways, dodging the paying customers while they shaped their skills under unconventional circumstances.
A self-proclaimed tomboy, Ewing’s passion for sports extended beyond the golf course. Her competitive fire burned brightly as she dominated as a point guard on her high school basketball team, but it was on the links that her true talent shone. At Itawamba Agricultural High School, Ewing became a trailblazer, becoming the first girl to win the Mississippi boys’ state high school championship. What made the achievement even more impressive was the fact that she conquered the tournament from the men’s tees, a feat accomplished on a 7,000-yard course, by far the longest she had ever played.
In college, Ewing took her talents to Mississippi State, where her name became synonymous with success. She amassed five victories during her collegiate career, solidifying her place as one of the rising stars of the sport. After turning professional, Ewing’s steady climb began on the Epson Tour in 2016, where she quickly earned her full LPGA card for the following season, setting the stage for what would become a memorable career.
Ewing’s first LPGA victory came in 2020, and it couldn’t have come at a more poetic moment—on her 28th birthday. Just months before, she had married Charlie Ewing, the head women’s golf coach at Mississippi State, creating a powerful partnership both on and off the course. Her LPGA triumphs, however, are only a small part of the story. With over $6 million in career earnings and 25 top-10 finishes, Ewing’s consistency has made her a fixture on the tour, and 2023 has been one of her finest years yet. With three top-10 finishes at the majors and earnings totaling $1.8 million this season alone, she ranks ninth on the prestigious CME points list, ensuring that she will end her career on the grandest stage—the CME Group Tour Championship in November, an event that offers a $4 million winner’s prize.
But Ewing’s decision to retire wasn’t motivated by money or accolades. In her emotional video message, she reflected on the incredible journey she’s been on—one filled with highs, lows, and personal sacrifices. “It is with a heavy but grateful heart that I want to announce that I’ll be retiring from professional golf at the end of this year,” Ewing said. “When I envisioned my career, I never dreamed this small-town Mississippi girl could have had the career that God has blessed me with.”
As she prepares to step away, Ewing speaks with both nostalgia and relief. She has traveled the world, met incredible people, and achieved things she once thought impossible, yet she also acknowledged the personal costs that came with the lifestyle. “I’ve also never felt more alone at times and have missed out on things that were so close to my heart,” Ewing revealed. The emotional weight of these sacrifices has been part of her decision to prioritize life outside of golf moving forward.
Her impact on the game, however, will not soon be forgotten. Representing the U.S. at the Solheim Cup on four separate occasions, including a triumphant victory earlier this month, stands out as one of the crowning achievements of her career. “The highest honor of my career was representing the U.S. at the Solheim Cup,” she said, a sentiment echoed by her teammates, who flooded her Instagram post with tributes. Lexi Thompson, herself preparing for retirement, praised Ewing for her unwavering dedication to the game, while Jennifer Kupcho noted that the tour would miss her “bright light.”
As Ewing reflects on the decisions that shaped her journey, she admits that many were made with golf in mind. Now, as she prepares to walk away from the sport that defined her life for so long, those priorities are shifting. “While I’ve always felt I was able to balance golf and life, every decision I’ve made since I was young has always been deliberated with how it would impact golf. That changes soon.”
For the fans, for the tour, and for the players who shared the course with her, Ewing’s departure will leave a void that will be difficult to fill. Yet as she moves forward, it is clear that her legacy, both as a golfer and as a person, will endure long after she walks off the course for the final time.
