Lexi Thompson withdraws from Diamond Resorts Invitational

Lexi Thompson’s withdrawal from the Diamond Resorts Invitational suggests her 2017 woes may not be completely behind her.

Lexi Thompson endured one body blow after another during the 2017 season. And she bounced back with grace and dignity again, and again, and again.

Lexi fans, hoping she’d turned a corner and put the problems and disappointments and challenges of 2017 behind her when she won the Race to the CME Globe, have been looking forward to getting a preview of her 2018 game at the Diamond Resorts Invitational next week.

However, not all Lexi’s 2017 problems have disappeared. She’s dealing with a flare-up of a deep bone bruise she sustained last February while she was boxing during a photo shoot. And it’s severe enough that she’s withdrawn from this year’s Diamond Resorts Invitational.

Here’s a peek at what Lexi’s missing:

LPGA fans shouldn’t despair. Even though Lexi Thompson won’t be in the field, we’ll still get to see Brittany Lang, Brooke Henderson, Brittany Lincicome, and a pregnant Gerina Piller joining in the fun.

This will probably be Piller’s only 2018 appearance since she’s due to deliver in May and hasn’t set a timetable for her return to competition.

The fifth edition of the Diamond Resorts Invitational promises a goodly amount of fun and golf course frolic. It’s the perfect way for the LPGA, PGA TOUR, and PGA Champions to kick off the 2018 golf season – a friendly get-together, some prize money, and a very worthwhile philanthropic endeavor all rolled into one big golf vacation extravaganza.

And it’s coming at the tail end of a deep freeze that’s reached well into the Southern states, so we’re all golf starved and looking forward to the event, with or without Lexi Thompson in the field.

Golf Channel will provide coverage beginning Friday, January 12th 1:30p-4:30p ET and continuing Saturday, January 13th 1:30p-4:30p ET through Sunday, Jan. 14th 1:00p-4:00p ET.