Anna Nordqvist closed the curtain on an 18‑year professional golf career with an emotional finale at the FM Championship on Sunday, just 12 days before she steps onto the podium 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 earlier this week confirmed that the Boston event would be her last, finished her final round on the ninth green at TPC Boston, surrounded by fellow competitors, caddies, and friends.
She posted a level‑par 72 for the day, ending the tournament one stroke under par for the week. Over the course of her career Nordqvist amassed 16 professional 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 straight appearances, cementing her status as one of the most accomplished European golfers of her generation. Her résumé places her among the elite, and her influence extends beyond the leaderboard.
The farewell was marked by heartfelt embraces. LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley gave Nordqvist a warm hug, while her playing partner, Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, reduced her to tears almost immediately on the first hole by expressing how honored she felt to share the final round with the Swedish legend. "Nothing ever prepares you for this moment. I'm definitely going to miss it," Nordqvist said, her voice tinged with both sadness and gratitude.
"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 everyone has been such a huge support." When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave, Nordqvist reflected on the non‑linear nature of her journey. "Many people think a career is a straight line upward. 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 contemplated retirement, especially 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 today. He essentially saved my career," she said, acknowledging the pivotal role of family support.
Nordqvist's first major came in her rookie season in 2009, when she captured the U.S. Women's Open. 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 and ask, did this really happen? No one can ever take that away from me, and it's definitely the proudest moment of my career," she recalled, describing the emotional weight of that win. Her nine consecutive Solheim Cup appearances produced five European victories.
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 she has been preparing for over the past 18 months. "All the work you put in, you do it for others to prepare for that one week," she said.
"The satisfaction of seeing your hard work pay off won't come until the actual Solheim Cup. I hope the players see the effort that me and the rest of the background team have invested, because it truly takes a village to make an event like that happen." Family considerations have also guided her decision to step away from competition.
Nordqvist admitted that over two decades of touring life caused her to miss many birthdays and family milestones. In two weeks she will travel to the Netherlands, where Bernardus Golf will host the first assignment of her post‑playing career, and where her nieces and nephews will be waiting. The transition was already hinted at by thoughtful gifts from fellow players. Former world No.
1 Lydia Ko presented her with a bottle of champagne earlier in the week. Nordqvist needed a moment to recognize the vintage, which turned out to be from 2009—the year her professional journey began.
A second bottle, dated 2017, commemorated her Evian Championship triumph, adding a sentimental touch to the farewell. The emotional day concluded with Nordqvist leaving the interview room smiling through tears. "My mascara is obviously waterproof, so that's a good sign," she joked, referring to 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.
Yin's win marked her sixth career LPGA title and placed her among a select group of players who have captured six tour victories, including a major, before turning 24—a distinction previously achieved only by a handful of peers such as Nelly Korda. Yin's decisive moment came on the final par‑five, where she ignored caddie David Jones' conservative advice and chose to attack the pin, a decision that paid off. While the FM Championship wrapped up, the golf world is turning its focus to the 20th Solheim Cup, scheduled for early September at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Team Europe, under Nordqvist's captaincy, will seek to reclaim the trophy from the United States. The opening ceremony will be streamed live on Thursday, September 10, at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports+, with comprehensive coverage across all three days of the biennial contest.
The event promises to be a showcase of skill, strategy, and national pride, and Nordqvist's transition from player to captain adds a compelling narrative to the upcoming showdown. In summary, Anna Nordqvist's retirement marks the end of a distinguished playing career and the beginning of a new chapter as a leader.
Her achievements—three majors, 16 tour wins, five Solheim Cup victories, and countless moments of perseverance—have left an indelible mark on women's golf. As she steps away from the fairways to guide Europe from the captain's seat, the sport will watch closely to see how her experience, tenacity, and love for the game translate into team success at the Solheim Cup.