Anna Nordqvist closed the chapter on an 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 upcoming Solheim Cup, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The 39‑year‑old Swede, who announced earlier this week that the tournament at Boston would be her final competitive appearance, finished her round on the ninth green at TPC Boston surrounded by fellow competitors and their caddies.
She posted a level‑par 72 for the day, ending the week one stroke under par. Throughout her career Nordqvist amassed 16 tour victories, three of which were major championships, and she recorded 19 top‑10 finishes in majors. She also contributed to five Solheim Cup triumphs across nine consecutive appearances, cementing her status as one of the most accomplished European golfers of her generation.
Her résumé places her among the elite, and her impact on the sport extends far beyond the numbers. The emotional moment was underscored by an embrace from LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley, while her playing partner, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, moved her to tears on the very first hole by expressing how honored she felt to share the final round with the legendary Swede. "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. 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 asked about the legacy she hopes to leave behind, Nordqvist reflected on the non‑linear nature of a professional athlete’s 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.
What I want to be remembered for is that I never gave up," she explained. She recalled moments when she seriously contemplated retirement in 2012 and 2013, saying, "If my younger brother hadn't come out and caddied for me that summer, I don't think I would be sitting here today. He essentially saved my career." Nordqvist’s first major came in her rookie season in 2009, and she added the Evian Championship in 2017. However, the victory that holds the most personal significance is her 2021 AIG Women's Open triumph at Carnoustie.
"It still feels like one of those moments where I have to pinch myself," she said. "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 yielded five European victories, and after serving as a playing vice‑captain in the two most recent editions, she now turns her full attention to the captaincy—a responsibility she has been preparing for over the past 18 months. "All the work you put in is for others to prepare for that one week," Nordqvist noted. "The satisfaction of seeing that hard work pay off won’t come until the actual Solheim Cup. Hopefully the players will recognize the effort that my team and I have invested, because it truly takes a village to make an event like that happen." Family has been a central theme in Nordqvist’s decision to step away from competition.
She admitted that the demands of professional golf caused her to miss countless birthdays over two decades. In two weeks, her nieces and nephews will be waiting for her 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, which turned out to be from 2009—the year her rookie season started—adding a sentimental touch. A second bottle, dated 2017, commemorated her Evian Championship win, marking another milestone in her career.
The emotional day concluded with tears throughout the interview room, but Nordqvist left smiling. "My mascara is obviously waterproof, so that’s a good sign," she joked, referencing the 2017 victory that still resonates with her. The tournament itself was won by China’s Ruoning Yin, who secured a two‑stroke victory over South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim, finishing with a two‑under‑70 capped by a birdie on the final hole.
Yin’s win ended a 672‑day title drought dating back to the 2024 Maybank Championship. She made a decisive choice on the closing par‑five, ignoring caddie David Jones’s advice to play conservatively and instead attacking the pin, a decision that paid off. Yin’s triumph 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 captured six LPGA titles, including a major, before turning 24—a distinction previously held by Nelly Korda. The event also highlighted strong performances from other rising stars, such as Allisen Corpuz, who finished third, and English duo Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, who tied for 18th and 27th respectively.
With the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour observing a brief pause before the 20th Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf, Team Europe is gearing up to challenge Team USA for the trophy. The opening ceremony will be streamed live on Thursday, September 10, at 4 p.m.
on Sky Sports+, followed by comprehensive coverage of all three days of the biennial contest on Sky Sports Golf. The schedule includes morning and afternoon sessions on Friday, September 11, and Saturday, September 12, culminating in the singles matches on Sunday, September 13, starting at 9 a.m. As Nordqvist transitions from player to captain, she carries forward a wealth of experience, resilience, and a deep love for the game. Her story serves as a reminder that perseverance, support from family and friends, and an unwavering belief in oneself can turn potential exits into lasting legacies.
The golf world now watches with anticipation as she prepares to lead Europe in what promises to be a memorable Solheim Cup showdown.