Anna Nordqvist closed the chapter on her 18‑year professional golf career with a heartfelt farewell at the FM Championship on Sunday, just 12 days before she steps into the role of Team Europe captain for the Solheim Cup, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The 39‑year‑old Swede, who had earlier this week announced that Boston would host her final tournament, completed her last round on the ninth green at TPC Boston surrounded by fellow competitors and their caddies. She wrapped up the day with an even‑par round, finishing the week one stroke under par. Nordqvist’s résumé is remarkable: 16 tour victories, three major championships, 19 top‑ten finishes in majors, and five Solheim Cup wins across nine straight appearances.
Over nearly two decades she has assembled a body of work that places her among the most accomplished European golfers of her generation. The emotional moment was underscored when LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley gave her a warm embrace, and playing partner Ariya Jutanugarn moved her to tears on the very first hole by expressing how honored she felt to share the legendary Swede’s final round. "Nothing ever prepares you for this moment.
I'm definitely going to miss it," Nordqvist said, her voice tinged with both sadness and gratitude. "Part of me feels like I still have so much more left in me, but I'm forever grateful for everything this game and the LPGA family have done for me." Reflecting on her early days, she added, "I came out on tour in 2009 as a 21‑year‑old with no family in the US, and everyone has been just such a huge support." When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave, Nordqvist answered candidly: "So many people think your career is a straight line upwards. I feel like I've gone through a lot of ups and downs both on and off the course. What I want to be remembered for is the fact that I never gave up." She recalled the darkest moments, noting, "I thought about quitting in 2012, 2013.
I was really, really close to walking away. If my younger brother hadn't come out and caddied for me that summer, I don't think I would be sitting here. So he saved my career." Those words highlight the personal sacrifices and family support that have been integral to her longevity.
Nordqvist’s three majors arrived at pivotal points in her career. She captured her first major as a rookie in 2009, added the Evian Championship in 2017, and cherishes the 2021 AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie above all.
"It's still one of those moments I pinch myself," she said of the 2021 victory. "Did this really happen? No one can ever take that away from me, and it's definitely the most proud moment of my career." Her Solheim Cup record is equally impressive.
Nine consecutive appearances yielded five European triumphs, and after serving as a playing vice‑captain in the last two editions, she now turns her full attention to the captaincy—a role she has been preparing for over the past 18 months. "All the work you put in, you put in for others to prepare for that one week," she explained.
"The satisfaction of seeing your hard work pay off won’t be until the actual Solheim Cup. Hopefully the players are going to see all the hard work that me and the rest of the background team have put in, because it really takes a village to make an event like that happen." Family considerations have also shaped her decision to retire. Nordqvist admitted she has "missed so many birthdays" over two decades of relentless travel and competition.
In two weeks she will be reunited with her nieces and nephews in the Netherlands, where Bernardus Golf will host the first assignment of her post‑playing career. The farewell gifts began even before the final round. Former world No.
1 Lydia Ko presented Nordqvist with a bottle of champagne earlier in the week, a gesture that initially left the Swede puzzled. "A really nice bottle of, I think it was champagne, maybe, I'm not sure.
I don’t drink a ton," she laughed. The vintage turned out to be from 2009, the year her rookie season began—a fitting tribute.
A second bottle, dated 2017, commemorated her Evian Championship win, marking her first major on European soil. Throughout the day, tears flowed, but Nordqvist left the interview room smiling, her mascara defiantly waterproof.
As the Solheim Cup approaches, fans can watch Team Europe’s quest to reclaim the trophy live on Sky Sports Golf from September 11‑13. The tournament promises high‑stakes drama, and Nordqvist’s transition from player to captain adds an extra layer of narrative intrigue. Whether she will guide Europe to victory remains to be seen, but her dedication, perseverance, and love for the game are already etched into the sport’s history.