Anna Nordqvist closed the curtain on an 18‑year professional golf career with an emotional ceremony at the FM Championship on Sunday, just 12 days before she steps into the spotlight as captain of Team Europe for the upcoming Solheim Cup, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The 39‑year‑old Swede, who confirmed earlier this week that the Boston tournament would be her final appearance, finished her last 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. Nordqvist’s résumé is impressive: 16 tour victories, three major championships, 19 top‑ten finishes in majors and five Solheim Cup wins earned across nine straight appearances.
Over nearly two decades she has compiled a body of work that places her among the most accomplished European golfers of her generation. The ceremony was marked by heartfelt embraces. LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley gave Nordqvist a warm hug, while her playing partner Ariya Jutanugarn moved her to tears on the very first hole by expressing how honored she felt to share the final round with the Swedish legend. "Nothing ever prepares you for a moment like this," Nordqvist said, her voice tinged with emotion.
"I’m definitely going to miss it. Part of me feels there’s still a lot left to give, but I’m forever grateful for everything the 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 incredible." When pressed about how she would like to be remembered, Nordqvist offered a candid perspective: "Many people picture a career as a straight upward line, but I’ve experienced many highs and lows both on and off the course. I want people to remember that I never gave up." She recalled moments when she seriously considered quitting. "I thought about walking away in 2012 and 2013. I was really close to giving up.
If my younger brother hadn’t stepped in to caddy for me that summer, I don’t think I’d be standing here today. He literally saved my career." Nordqvist’s first major came in her rookie season, when she captured the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open.
She added the Evian Championship in 2017 and, perhaps most fondly, the 2021 AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie, a triumph she describes as "the moment I still pinch myself about." "No one can ever take that away from me; it’s the proudest achievement of my career," she said. Her nine consecutive Solheim Cup appearances resulted in five European victories. After serving as a playing vice‑captain in the last two editions, she now turns her full attention to the captaincy—a role she has been preparing for over the past 18 months. "All the work you put in is for others to benefit during that one week of competition," she explained.
"The real satisfaction will come when we see the players appreciate the effort the whole support team has invested. It truly takes a village to make the Solheim Cup happen." Family has been a central theme throughout Nordqvist’s decision to retire. She admitted she has "missed so many birthdays" over 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.
The farewell gifts began even before the final round. Former world No.
1 Lydia Ko presented Nordqvist with a vintage bottle of champagne earlier in the week. Nordqvist admitted she needed a moment to recognize the significance of the gift.
"It turned out to be a 2009 vintage, the year my rookie season started—a perfect match," she laughed. A second bottle, a 2017 vintage, awaited her after she stepped off the course, commemorating her Evian Championship triumph on European soil.
Tears flowed throughout the day, but Nordqvist left the interview room smiling. "My mascara is waterproof, so that’s a good sign," she joked, referencing the 2017 victory.
The tournament itself was won by China’s Ruoning Yin, who edged out South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim by two strokes. 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. Yin’s decisive moment came on the final par‑five, where she ignored caddie David Jones’s advice to play it safe and instead attacked the pin, rewarding herself with a birdie. The LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour now pause for a week before the 20th Solheim Cup, set to be contested at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Team Europe will look to reclaim the trophy from the United States. The opening ceremony will be aired live on Thursday, September 10, at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports+, with comprehensive coverage across all three days of the biennial event. As Nordqvist transitions from player to leader, she reflects on a career defined by resilience, perseverance, and a deep love for the game.
Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring golfers and a reminder that even when the final round ends, the impact of a true champion endures far beyond the fairways.