Anna Nordqvist closed the curtain on an 18‑year professional golfing career with a moving farewell at the FM Championship on Sunday, just 12 days before she steps into the captain's role 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 the Boston event would be her final appearance, completed 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, finishing the tournament one stroke under par for the week.
Nordqvist's résumé concludes with 16 tour victories, three major championships, 19 top‑ten finishes in majors, and five Solheim Cup wins earned over nine straight appearances. Across nearly two decades, she has compiled a body of work 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, her voice thick with feeling. "A part of me still feels like I have so much more to give, but I am 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 everyone has been such a huge support." When asked what she hopes her legacy will be, Nordqvist reflected, "Many people think a career is a straight line upward. I've experienced a lot of highs and lows both on and off the course.
I want to be remembered for never giving up." She recalled moments when she contemplated quitting in 2012 and 2013, saying, "I was really, really close to walking away. If my younger brother hadn't stepped in to caddie for me that summer, I don't think I'd be standing here now. He literally saved my career." The Swede's first major came as a rookie in 2009, and she later added the Evian Championship in 2017.
However, the triumph that holds the deepest place in her heart is the 2021 AIG Women's Open at Carnoustie. "It still feels like a pinch‑me moment," she explained. "Did this really happen?
No one can ever take that away from me, and it's definitely the proudest moment of my career." Nordqvist's nine consecutive Solheim Cup appearances produced five victories for Europe. After serving as a playing vice‑captain in the two most recent editions, she now turns her full attention to the captaincy—a role she says has consumed her thoughts for the past 18 months.
"All the work you put in is for others to prepare for that one week," she noted. "The satisfaction of seeing your hard work pay off won't come until the actual Solheim Cup. I hope the players see the dedication that my team and I have invested, because it truly takes a village to make an event like that happen." Family has been at the core of her decision to retire, with Nordqvist admitting she has "missed so many birthdays" over two decades of sacrifice. Her nieces and nephews are expected to greet her in the Netherlands in two weeks, where Bernardus Golf will host her first assignment as captain.
Gifts began arriving even before the farewell ceremony. Former world No. 1 Lydia Ko presented her with a bottle of champagne earlier in the week, which Nordqvist initially struggled to identify. It turned out to be a 2009 vintage—the year her rookie season began—a fitting tribute.
A second bottle, from 2017, marked the year she captured the Evian Championship, her first major on European soil. "My mascara is obviously waterproof, so that's a good sign," she joked, smiling through the tears. 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 ended a 672‑day winless stretch dating back to the 2024 Maybank Championship. She made a bold decision on the final hole, ignoring caddie David Jones' advice to play it safe and instead attacking the pin, a shot she described as "a good tempo" that paid off. This triumph marked Yin's 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—the first since Nelly Korda.
Other notable finishes included Allisen Corpuz in third, while World No. 1 Nelly Korda tied for 50th in what will be her final event 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 pause for a week before the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup, set to take place at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Team Europe hopes to reclaim the trophy from the United States. The opening ceremony will be streamed live on Thursday, 10 September, at 4 pm on Sky Sports+, followed by continuous coverage over the three‑day contest on Sky Sports Golf.
Friday and Saturday will feature two sessions each day, beginning at 6 am, while the singles matches on Sunday, 13 September, will kick off at 9 am. Fans can also explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream without a contract via NOW.
Beyond the competition, Nordqvist's transition from player to captain underscores a broader narrative about resilience, family, and the evolution of a sporting career. Her story serves as a reminder that even the most decorated athletes face moments of doubt, and that support—whether from a sibling caddying on a summer day or from a global community of fans—can be the decisive factor that keeps a career alive.
As she prepares to lead Europe into the Solheim Cup, Nordqvist's legacy will be defined not only by her trophies but by her unwavering determination to persevere, adapt, and inspire the next generation of golfers.