Anna Nordqvist closed the chapter on her 18‑year professional golf career with a poignant farewell at the FM Championship on Sunday, just 12 days before she steps into the role of Team Europe captain for the upcoming Solheim Cup, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The 39‑year‑old Swede, who confirmed earlier this week that the Boston event would serve as her final tournament, completed her last round on the ninth green at TPC Boston surrounded by a supportive entourage of fellow competitors and caddies. She finished the day with a level‑par round, ending the week one stroke under par. Nordqvist’s résumé is a testament to sustained excellence.
Over the span of her career she amassed 16 tournament victories, three of which were major championships, and recorded 19 top‑10 finishes in majors. She also contributed to five Solheim Cup victories across nine straight appearances, cementing her status as one of the most accomplished European golfers of her generation.
Her achievements place her in the elite company of the LPGA Hall of Fame, a distinction highlighted when Hall of Famer Pat Bradley embraced her after the final putt. Even her playing partner, Ariya Jutanugarn, was moved to tears on the first hole, expressing how honored she felt to share the legendary Swede’s concluding round. Reflecting on the moment, Nordqvist admitted, "Nothing ever prepares you for this. I'm definitely going to miss it.
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 has done for me. 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 pressed about the legacy she hopes to leave, she offered a candid perspective: "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." Her journey was not without its dark moments.
Nordqvist recalled contemplating retirement in both 2012 and 2013, describing how close she came to walking away from the sport. "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 familial support that kept her in the game.
The Swede’s major triumphs began early. She captured her first major, the LPGA Championship, as a rookie in 2009, followed by a victory at the Evian Championship in 2017. However, the title she cherishes most is the 2021 AIG Women's Open at Carnoustie. "It's still one of those moments I pinch myself," Nordqvist explained.
"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 nine consecutive Solheim Cup appearances yielded five European victories, and after serving as a playing vice‑captain in the two most recent editions, she is now fully focused on her captaincy duties—a responsibility she says has consumed her thoughts for the past 18 months. "All the work you put in, you put in for others to prepare for that one week," she noted. "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 played a pivotal role in her decision to retire. Nordqvist confessed that she has "missed so many birthdays" over two decades of relentless competition.
Her nieces and nephews are expected to join her in the Netherlands in two weeks, where Bernardus Golf will host her first assignment as captain and mark the beginning of her post‑playing career. The farewell was punctuated by thoughtful gifts from fellow golfers.
Former world No. 1 Lydia Ko presented Nordqvist with a vintage bottle of champagne earlier in the week. The label turned out to be from 2009, the year Nordqvist turned pro—a fitting tribute.
A second bottle, dated 2017, commemorated her Evian Championship win, further linking her personal milestones to the celebratory gestures. Emotion ran high throughout the day, yet Nordqvist managed to leave the interview room with a smile.
"My mascara is obviously waterproof, so that's a good sign," she joked after recalling the 2017 victory. The tournament itself concluded with Ruoning Yin of China claiming the title by two strokes over Hyo Joo Kim, who posted a final‑round 70 with a birdie on the last hole. 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 players who have secured six LPGA Tour titles—including a major—before turning 24. The win also continued a recent trend of Chinese success at the event, following Miranda Wang’s 2025 triumph.
Other notable performances included World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who finished tied‑50th in what will be her final event before the Solheim Cup, and the English duo of Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, who tied for 18th and 27th respectively. The LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour will now observe a brief hiatus before the 20th Solheim Cup, set to be contested at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Team Europe hopes to reclaim the trophy from the United States. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, at 4 p.m.
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