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 onto the podium 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, wrapped up her last round on the ninth green at TPC Boston surrounded by fellow competitors and their caddies. She posted a level‑par 72 in the final round, finishing the week one stroke under par.
Nordqvist’s résumé is a study in consistency and excellence. Over the course of her career she amassed 16 tour victories, three of which were major championships, and recorded 19 top‑ten 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 among the elite, alongside legends of the LPGA. The emotional moment was amplified when LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley embraced her on the green, and playing partner Ariya Jutanugarn moved her to tears almost immediately, expressing how honored she felt to share the final round with the Swedish icon. "Nothing ever prepares you for this moment.
I'm definitely going to miss it," Nordqvist admitted. "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 arrived 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 how she would like to be remembered, Nordqvist reflected on the non‑linear nature of her journey. "People often think a career is a straight line upward, but I've experienced many ups and downs both on and off the course. I want to be remembered for never giving up.
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. Her first major came in her rookie season, when she captured the 2009 LPGA Championship. She later added the Evian Championship in 2017, but the victory that holds the most personal significance is the 2021 AIG Women's Open at Carnoustie.
"It's still one of those moments where I pinch myself," Nordqvist recalled. "Did this really happen? No one can ever take that away from me, and it's definitely the most proud moment of my career." Nordqvist’s nine consecutive Solheim Cup appearances produced five European triumphs.
After serving as a playing vice‑captain in the two most recent editions, she is now turning her full attention to the captaincy—a role that has consumed her thoughts for the past 18 months. "All the work you put in is for others to prepare for that one week," she explained. "The satisfaction of seeing your hard work pay off won't be felt until the actual Solheim Cup. Hopefully the players will see all the effort that my team and I have invested, because it really does take a village to make an event like that happen." Family considerations have also played a central role in her decision to retire.
Nordqvist confessed that she has "missed so many birthdays" over two decades of touring, and she looks forward to reuniting with nieces and nephews in the Netherlands in two weeks, where Bernardus Golf will host her first assignment as captain. 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; the vintage turned out to be from 2009, the year her professional career launched. A second bottle, from 2017—the year she won the Evian—was waiting for her as she stepped off the course. "My mascara is obviously waterproof, so that's a good sign," she laughed, noting the tears that had fallen throughout the day.
The tournament itself was won by China's Ruoning Yin, who edged out Hyo Joo Kim by two strokes after a dramatic finish that included a bold decision on the final par‑five. Yin's victory marked her sixth career win and, together with her 2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, placed her among a select group of players who have secured six LPGA titles, including a major, before turning 24. Her win made her the second consecutive Chinese champion at this 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 last tournament before the Solheim Cup, and English teammates Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, who tied for 18th and 27th respectively. The LPGA and Ladies European Tours will observe a brief hiatus before the 20th Solheim Cup, set to be contested at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Team Europe will be eager to reclaim the trophy from Team USA. The opening ceremony for the Solheim Cup is scheduled for Thursday, 10 September, at 4 p.m.
on Sky Sports+, with continuous coverage across all three days on Sky Sports Golf. Broadcasts begin at 6 a.m. on Friday, 11 September, and continue through Saturday, 12 September, with two sessions each day, culminating in a singles showdown on Sunday, 13 September, starting at 9 a.m.
Golf fans can also explore the latest Sky Sports offers or stream without a contract via NOW. Beyond the competition, the event presents an opportunity for fans to discover new courses. With access to more than 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, golfers can search by location, compare prices, and book rounds online, ensuring that the excitement of the Solheim Cup extends well beyond the televised matches.