This LPGA veteran is retiring after the Olympics. A medal is looking like a possible going-away gift

It’s a cliché response to say that the only real expectation Mariajo Uribe carried with her into this week’s Olympic women’s golf tournament was to enjoy herself. Still, when you’re playing the last competitive event of a fulfilling 14-year LPGA career, enjoying yourself is as good a reward as any.

And yet through 36 holes at Le Golf National outside Paris, Uribe might have to adjust her goals slightly. After shooting back-to-back two-under 70s in the opening two rounds, the 34-year-old from Colombia sits tied for fifth, four shots off the lead held by Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux and in the hunt for a medal.

A former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion who turned pro in 2009, Uribe has been contemplating retirement for a while now. She even had the Olympics circled as a last stop. Only it was supposed to be the Tokyo Olympics back in 2000. When COVID delayed the Games a year, and kept spectators away, Uribe rethought the idea in hopes of giving herself a more fulfilling sendoff in Paris.

To wit, Uribe has her husband, mother and father, brother and his family and several friends in attendance. “A lot of Colombians live in Paris, too, so a lot of Colombian support,” Uribe said. “They're probably not golfers, but I'm really happy they came and cheered for me.”

They’re not the only ones cheering. So are many of Uribe’s peers. While the former college All-American at UCLA never won an LPGA title during her career (she did claim her first and lone win on Ladies European Tour earlier this year), she had become one of the most beloved players on tour, holding a competitve attitude but unafraid to show a softer side (like her choice of socks on Wednesday).

“It’s really sad because now I’m at this stage where all my friends are retiring,” said Spain’s Azahara Munoz, who joined the LPGA Tour the same time as Uribe. “There’s not many of us left from when I started and she was one of them.

“She never gives up. She’s quite the fighter. That’s how I would define her.”

Uribe was one of 12 players to break par during the first round, yet still talked off the course feeling like she had a little more she didn’t get out of her round.

“I had a decent round, some not so great mistakes and bogeys I shouldn't have made. But I'm right in there. I know I can shoot low,” Uribe said. “You have to hit it good off the tee here, and my driver is pretty good right now. So just stay in contention.”

Needless to say, Uribe is particularly excited about the next two days, knowing too the large crowds expected at Le Golf National will make things feel extra special.

“Yeah, I mean, this is my third Olympics, but Paris feels different,” said Uribe, who finished T-19 in 2016 at Rio and T-50 in 2021 at Tokyo. “The atmosphere is unbelievable. Watching the guys finish on Sunday was great. The crowds are amazing. I'm not a part of Solheim Cup, but this probably the closest I'm going to get to. The course is unbelievable. I'm really happy with the decision I made, and it's been an amazing week so far.”

Asked if, given her play this week, that perhaps retirement talk is a little premature, Uribe noted that she’s been comfortable with this decision for a while now.

“I mean, one of my idols is Lorena Ochoa, and she went out as No. 1 in the world [at age 28], and I always thought that was so great, like just finishing on a high note,” Uribe said.

Uribe won’t finish as the top-ranked player in the world, but walking off with a medal would certainly constitute finishing on a high note.