Anna Nordqvist closed the curtain on an 18‑year professional golf career with a poignant farewell at the FM Championship on Sunday, just 12 days before she steps into the spotlight as captain of Team Europe for the Solheim Cup, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The 39‑year‑old Swede, who earlier this week confirmed that the Boston tournament would be her final appearance, completed her last round on the ninth green at TPC Boston surrounded by a circle of fellow competitors and their caddies. She signed the scorecard with a level‑par round, ending the week one stroke under par and sealing a dignified conclusion to a storied tenure.
Nordqvist departs the game with an impressive résumé: 16 tour victories, three major championships, 19 top‑ten finishes in majors, and five Solheim Cup wins earned over nine consecutive team appearances. Over nearly two decades she has amassed a body of work that places her among the most accomplished European golfers of her generation. Her final round was marked by heartfelt embraces, including a warm hug from LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley, while her 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 swan song.
"Nothing ever prepares you for this moment. I'm definitely going to miss it," Nordqvist said, her voice tinged with both sadness and gratitude. "A 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. I came out on tour in 2009 as a 21‑year‑old with no family in the United States, and everyone has been such a huge support." When pressed about the legacy she hopes to leave, she reflected, "People often think a career is a straight line upward.
I've experienced many ups and downs both on and off the course. What I want to be remembered for is that I never gave up." She recalled moments when she nearly walked away from the sport. "I thought about quitting in 2012 and 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. He saved my career," she said, underscoring the importance of family support in her journey. Nordqvist's first major arrived in her rookie season, when she captured the 2009 LPGA Championship.
She added the Evian Championship in 2017, but the victory that holds the deepest emotional resonance is her triumph at the 2021 AIG Women's Open at Carnoustie. "It's still one of those moments where I pinch myself," she explained.
"Did this really happen? No one can ever take that away from me, and it's definitely the proudest moment of my career." Her nine straight Solheim Cup appearances produced five European victories, and after serving as a playing vice‑captain in the last two editions, she now turns her full attention to the captaincy—a role that has consumed her thoughts for the past 18 months. "All the work you put in, you do it for others to prepare for that one week," she noted. "The satisfaction of seeing your hard work pay off won't be felt until the actual Solheim Cup.
Hopefully the players will see the effort 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 has been at the core of both her decision to retire and the plans that follow. Nordqvist admitted she has "missed so many birthdays" over two decades of sacrifice, and she looks forward to reuniting with nieces and nephews in the Netherlands in two weeks, where Bernardus Golf will host her first official assignment as captain. The farewell gifts began even before the final round.
Former world No. 1 Lydia Ko presented her with a bottle of champagne earlier in the week, a vintage from 2009—the year Nordqvist turned professional. A second bottle, from 2017, commemorated her Evian Championship win, adding a symbolic touch to the celebration.
The emotional day concluded with tears but also smiles. "My mascara is obviously waterproof, so that's a good sign," she joked after the interview, acknowledging the bittersweet nature of the moment.
While Nordqvist was saying goodbye, the tournament itself produced a dramatic finish. China's Ruoning Yin claimed the title with a two‑stroke margin over South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, who posted a final‑round 70 with a birdie on the last hole. Yin's victory ended a 672‑day winless stretch dating back to the 2024 Maybank Championship.
On the decisive 12th hole, she faced a 25‑foot birdie putt, then steadied herself on the breezy back‑nine, ultimately ignoring caddie David Jones' advice to play conservatively on the final par‑five and opting for an aggressive line to the pin. "David told me to aim a little left and I was just like, let's just go for the green, go for the pin," Yin recalled. "I hit a good shot and I was telling myself, just slow down and make a good tempo, and then I did it." Yin's win marked her sixth career victory and, together with her 2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, placed her among a select group of six‑time winners under the age of 24 in the past 15 years—a distinction previously held only by Nelly Korda.
She became the second consecutive Chinese champion at the event, following Miranda Wang's 2025 triumph. Other notable performances included Allisen Corpuz finishing third, while both Charley Hull and Lottie Woad of England tied for 18th and 27th respectively. World No.
1 Korda ended her final pre‑Solheim Cup outing tied for 50th. The LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour will observe a brief pause before the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup, scheduled to be played at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Team Europe will aim to reclaim the trophy from the United States.
The opening ceremony is set for Thursday, 10 September, at 4 pm on Sky Sports+, with comprehensive coverage across all three days of the biennial contest on Sky Sports Golf. Broadcasts begin at 6 am on Friday, 11 September, and Saturday, 12 September, with two sessions each day, followed by a 9 am singles session on Sunday, 13 September.
Golf fans can also explore the best Sky Sports deals or stream without a contract on NOW. In summary, Anna Nordqvist's farewell encapsulated a career of perseverance, triumph, and humility. As she transitions from player to captain, her story serves as an inspiring reminder that dedication, support from loved ones, and an unwavering belief in oneself can carry an athlete through the inevitable highs and lows of professional sport.
The upcoming Solheim Cup will be her first major test in a new role, and the golf world will be watching closely to see how the former champion translates her on‑course experience into leadership for Team Europe.