Anna Nordqvist capped off an 18‑year stint on the professional circuit with a heartfelt farewell at the FM Championship on Sunday, just 12 days before she steps into the role of captain for Team Europe at the Solheim Cup, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The 39‑year‑old Swede, who confirmed earlier this week 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 posted a level‑par 72 in that final round, ending the week one stroke under par and sealing a dignified exit from the sport she has dominated for nearly two decades.
Throughout her career Nordqvist amassed 16 professional victories, three of which were major championships, and she recorded 19 top‑ten finishes in majors overall. Her Solheim Cup résumé is equally impressive, featuring five wins in nine consecutive appearances for Europe.
When measured against her contemporaries, her résumé places her among the most accomplished European golfers of her generation. The emotional weight of the moment was evident when LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley embraced her on the course, and playing partner Ariya Jutanugarn reduced her to tears almost immediately, expressing how honored she felt to share the final round with a Swedish legend. "Nothing ever prepares you for this moment. I'm definitely going to miss it," Nordqvist admitted.
"A part of me still feels like I have so much more to give, but I am 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 the support I've received has been overwhelming." When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave behind, Nordqvist reflected on the non‑linear nature of a sporting career. "People often picture a career as a straight line upward, but I've experienced many highs and lows both on and off the course.
I want to be remembered for never giving up," she said. She recalled moments when she seriously considered quitting the sport in 2012 and 2013, noting that her younger brother stepping in as her caddie that summer was a turning point that saved her career.
Nordqvist's first major came in her rookie season in 2009, and she added the Evian Championship in 2017. However, the triumph that she cherishes most is her victory at the 2021 AIG Women's Open at Carnoustie.
"It still feels like a pinch‑me moment," she explained. "No one can ever take that away from me, and it's definitely the proudest point of my career." Her nine straight Solheim Cup appearances yielded five European victories, and 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 benefit during that one week," she said.
"The real satisfaction will come when we see the results on the day of the Cup. It truly takes a village to stage an event of that magnitude, and I hope the players can feel the dedication of the entire support team." Family considerations have also been central to her decision to retire.
Nordqvist acknowledged that she has missed countless birthdays and family milestones over the past two decades of relentless travel and competition. In two weeks, she will join her nieces and nephews in the Netherlands, where Bernardus Golf will host her first assignment as captain and the next chapter of her life. 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, which turned out to be a 2009 vintage—the same year Nordqvist turned professional. A second bottle, a 2017 vintage, commemorated her Evian Championship win, the first major she claimed on European soil.
"My mascara is waterproof, so that's a good sign," she joked, smiling through the tears. The tournament itself concluded with Ruoning Yin of China taking the title, edging out 23‑year‑old Hyo Joo Kim by two strokes after a dramatic finish that saw Kim birdie the final hole.
Yin's victory marked her sixth career win and placed her among a select group of players who have secured six LPGA titles, including a major, before turning 24—a distinction previously held by Nelly Korda. The win also continued China's recent success on the tour, following Miranda Wang's triumph in 2025. 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 English teammates Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, who tied for 18th and 27th respectively.
The LPGA and Ladies European Tours will now observe a brief pause before the 20th Solheim Cup, scheduled to be contested at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Team Europe will look to reclaim the trophy from the United States.
The opening ceremony for the Cup is set for Thursday, September 10, at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports+, with comprehensive live coverage across all three days on Sky Sports Golf. Broadcasts begin at 6 a.m. on Friday, September 11, continue with two sessions on Saturday, September 12, and culminate with the singles matches on Sunday, September 13, starting at 9 a.m.
Golf fans can also explore streaming options via NOW, which offers contract‑free access to Sky Sports. Beyond the competition, the event presents an opportunity for fans to discover new courses, as Sky Sports frequently promotes special deals for bookings at over 1,700 courses throughout the UK and Ireland. As Nordqvist transitions from player to captain, she embodies the spirit of perseverance, dedication, and love for the game that will inspire the next generation of European golfers.