Anna Nordqvist, the three‑time major champion who will serve as captain of Team Europe at the upcoming Solheim Cup, has taken to social media to confirm that she will hang up her professional golf clubs after this week’s FM Championship, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The 39‑year‑old Swede, a veteran of nine Solheim Cups as a player and a member of five victorious squads, will lead Europe at Bernardus Golf from September 11 to 13. While she has continued to compete on the LPGA Tour and has remained a fixture in the world’s top 120, Nordqvist has decided to end her playing career before the conclusion of the LPGA season in order to focus on her health and family. In a joint post shared by the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, Nordqvist wrote, “It is with a grateful heart that I am retiring from professional golf in Boston this week.” She reflected on a career that began in 2004 when she arrived in the United States with just two suitcases, a set of clubs and a dream of testing herself against the world’s best.
Her first major victory came at the 2009 LPGA Championship, and she added a second major at the 2021 AIG Women’s Open, bringing her total to nine LPGA Tour wins, three Ladies European Tour titles, and two Olympic appearances for Sweden. The announcement was met with an outpouring of respect from fellow players and legends alike. Annika Sörenstam, a ten‑time major winner and one of Nordqvist’s compatriots, posted a tribute praising her “great career.” Other players such as Jessica Korda and Auston Kim also sent congratulations, underscoring the high regard in which she is held across both tours.
During her pre‑tournament press conference in Boston, Nordqvist explained why she chose to retire at this particular moment. She said, “When I accepted the captaincy, I wanted to experience this journey with the girls, and this tournament is essentially the final event before the Solheim Cup.
I feel I have given everything I can and have been there for the team every step of the way.” She added that the past few years had been challenging as she worked to regain her form, and that she wanted to finish on her own terms, while she still felt she could enjoy the game. Nordqvist also spoke candidly about her personal aspirations. “I am 39 and I have dreams of starting a family,” she said.
“There is a time and place for everything, and I am content with what I have accomplished. Now it’s time to shift my focus to my health and my loved ones.” She confirmed that the decision to retire had been made earlier in the year, but she waited until after the FM Championship to make it public so she could savor the final moments of her playing career without constant media scrutiny. Travel woes added drama to her final week. Nordqvist recounted a “nightmare” journey from Canada to Boston that lasted 22 hours due to cancelled and delayed flights.
She described a moment on the floor of Toronto’s airport, overwhelmed with emotion, fearing she would miss the retirement dinner planned for her teammates. Fortunately, the tournament commissioner allowed her to skip the mandatory player meeting, giving her the chance to join her team for the celebration.
In her heartfelt farewell, Nordqvist emphasized gratitude for the game and the people it introduced her to. “I have fallen many times, but I never gave up. I am forever thankful for everything golf has given me and for the friends I have made along the way,” she wrote.
“I don’t know how to say goodbye to something that means so much to me, but this will be my last week walking inside the ropes on tour.” Looking ahead, Nordqvist will transition fully into her captaincy role, guiding Europe in what promises to be a fiercely contested Solheim Cup. The event, scheduled for September 11‑13, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf, with all three days available for streaming via NOW without a contract.
Fans can also explore special Sky Sports offers and book tee times at more than 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. Nordqvist’s retirement marks the end of an era for a player who has been a constant presence in women’s golf for two decades.
Her legacy includes not only her major victories and tour wins but also her reputation as a steady, team‑oriented competitor who always put the collective goal above personal glory. As captain, she will bring that same self‑less attitude to the Solheim Cup, hoping to inspire a new generation of European players to chase the coveted trophy. The golf world will watch closely as Nordqvist leads Europe in September, hoping to reclaim the Solheim Cup from the United States. Whether she will add another chapter to her storied career as a captain remains to be seen, but her decision to retire from active competition underscores a desire to preserve the joy and health she has cherished throughout her remarkable journey.