Anna Nordqvist closed the chapter on an 18‑year professional golf career with a poignant 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 confirmed earlier this week that Boston would host her final round, wrapped up her tournament on the ninth green at TPC Boston surrounded by fellow competitors and their caddies. She posted a level‑par 72 in her concluding round, finishing the week one stroke under par. Nordqvist departs the game with an impressive résumé: 16 tour victories, three major championships, 19 top‑10 finishes in majors, and five Solheim Cup wins earned over nine straight appearances.
Over nearly two decades she has crafted a legacy that places her among the most accomplished European golfers of her generation. The emotional moment was amplified when LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley embraced her, and playing partner Ariya Jutanugarn moved her to tears on the very first hole by expressing how honored she felt to share the legendary Swede's final round. "Nothing ever prepares you for this moment. I'm definitely going to miss it," Nordqvist said.
"Part of me feels like I still have so much more left in me but I'm just forever grateful for everything this game and the LPGA family has done for me. I came out on tour in 2009 as a 21‑year‑old with no family in the US, and everyone has been just such a huge support." When pressed about how she wants to be remembered, Nordqvist reflected on the non‑linear nature of her journey. "So many people think your career is a straight line upwards.
I feel like I've gone through a lot of ups and downs both on and off the course. What I want to be remembered for is the fact that I never gave up." She recalled the darkest moments of her career, noting that she seriously contemplated 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. So he saved my career," she explained, underscoring the vital role family played in keeping her on the tour. Nordqvist's 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 deepest personal meaning is her 2021 AIG Women's Open triumph at Carnoustie.
"It's still one of those moments I pinch myself," she said. "Did this really happen? No one can ever take that away from me, and it's definitely the most proud moment of my career." Her nine consecutive Solheim Cup appearances produced five European victories, and after serving as a playing vice‑captain in the last two editions, she is now fully focused on her new role as captain.
"All the work you put in, you put in for others to prepare for that one week," she observed. "The satisfaction of seeing your hard work pay off won't be until the actual Solheim Cup.
Hopefully the players are going to see all the hard work that me and the rest of the background team have put in, because it really takes a village to make an event like that happen." Family considerations have also shaped her decision to retire. Nordqvist admitted 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 vintage bottle of champagne earlier in the week.
The label turned out to be from 2009, the year her professional debut began—a fitting tribute. A second bottle, dated 2017, commemorated her Evian Championship win, adding another sentimental touch. "My mascara is obviously waterproof, so that's a good sign," Nordqvist joked, smiling through the tears. While Nordqvist was saying goodbye, the tournament itself produced its own drama.
China's Ruoning Yin secured the title with a two‑stroke margin over 23‑year‑old Hyo Joo Kim, who closed with a two‑under 70 capped by a birdie on the final hole. Yin's victory ended a 672‑day winless stretch dating back to the 2024 Maybank Championship. On the decisive par‑five 12th, Yin faced a 25‑foot birdie putt, chose to play aggressively rather than follow caddie David Jones' conservative advice, and ultimately parred the remaining holes to clinch the win. The triumph marked Yin's sixth career victory and, together with her 2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, placed her among a select group of players who have amassed six LPGA titles—including a major—before turning 24.
She became the second consecutive Chinese champion at this event, following Miranda Wang's 2025 triumph. Other notable finishes included Allisen Corpuz in third place, while World No. 1 Nelly Korda tied for 50th in what will be her final round before the Solheim Cup. English teammates Charley Hull and Lottie Woad posted respectable ties for 18th and 27th respectively.
The LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour will now observe a brief hiatus before the 20th Solheim Cup, set to be contested at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Team Europe hopes to reclaim the trophy from the United States. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, September 10 at 4 p.m.
on Sky Sports+, with comprehensive coverage across all three days of the biennial contest on Sky Sports Golf. Broadcasts begin at 6 a.m.
on Friday, September 11, continue with two sessions each day, and culminate with singles action at 9 a.m. on Sunday, September 13.
Viewers can also stream via NOW with no‑contract options. As Nordqvist transitions from player to leader, she carries forward a career defined by resilience, major triumphs, and a deep commitment to the sport.
Her story serves as a reminder that perseverance, family support, and a willingness to adapt can turn potential exits into new beginnings, and that the legacy of a great athlete often extends far beyond the final putt.