Anna Nordqvist closed the curtain on an 18‑year professional golf career with a deeply moving final round at the FM Championship on Sunday, just 12 days before she steps onto the podium as captain of Team Europe for the Solheim Cup, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The 39‑year‑old Swede, who earlier this week announced that the Boston event would serve as her swan song, finished her last round on the ninth green at TPC Boston surrounded by a circle of fellow competitors and their caddies. She posted a level‑par 72 for the day, ending the tournament one stroke under par for the week and sealing a respectable finish to a remarkable career. Throughout her two‑decade tenure on the LPGA Tour, Nordqvist amassed 16 professional victories, three of which were major championships, and she recorded 19 top‑10 finishes in majors.
Her Solheim Cup résumé is equally impressive: she competed in nine straight editions, contributing to five European triumphs. In the eyes of many observers, her body of work places her among the most accomplished European golfers of her generation.
The emotional weight of the moment was evident when LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley embraced Nordqvist after her round, and playing partner Ariya Jutanugarn reduced her to tears almost immediately on the first tee by expressing how honored she felt to share the legendary Swede's final day on the course. "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 came out 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 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 explained.
She recalled moments when she seriously contemplated retirement in 2012 and 2013, admitting that a crucial intervention by her younger brother—who caddied for her that summer—saved her career. "If my brother hadn't come out and caddied for me, I don't think I would be sitting here. He saved my career," she said, emphasizing the importance of family support. Nordqvist's first major victory came in her rookie season in 2009, when she captured the LPGA Championship.
She added the Evian Championship in 2017, but the triumph that she cherishes most is the 2021 AIG Women's Open at Carnoustie. "It's still one of those moments I pinch myself and ask, 'Did this really happen?' No one can ever take that away from me, and it's definitely the most proud moment of my career," she recalled, her eyes shining as she described the final putt that sealed the title. Her nine consecutive Solheim Cup appearances have been a cornerstone of her career. After serving as a playing vice‑captain in the two most recent editions, Nordqvist 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 put in for others to prepare for that one week," she said. "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 has been at the heart of both her decision to retire and the next chapter of her life. Nordqvist admitted that she has "missed so many birthdays" over two decades of sacrifice, and she looks forward to reuniting with nieces and nephews who will be waiting for her in the Netherlands in two weeks, where Bernardus Golf will host her first assignment as captain.
The emotional gifts she received on her final day underscored the sentiment of the week. Former world No. 1 Lydia Ko presented her with a vintage bottle of champagne from 2009—the year her rookie season began—while a second bottle from 2017, the year she won the Evian Championship, was waiting for her as she stepped off the course. "My mascara is obviously waterproof, so that's a good sign," Nordqvist joked, wiping away tears but smiling throughout the interview.
The tournament itself concluded with a dramatic finish. China's Ruoning Yin captured the title with a two‑stroke victory over South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, who closed with a two‑under 70 highlighted by a birdie on the final hole.
Yin's win marked her sixth career victory and, together with her 2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, placed her among a select group of players who have secured six LPGA Tour titles—including a major—before turning 24. This achievement made her the first Chinese player to win the event since Miranda Wang in 2025. Meanwhile, World No.
1 Nelly Korda finished tied for 50th in what turned out to be her final tournament appearance before the Solheim Cup, and English teammates Charley Hull and Lottie Woad posted respectable ties for 18th and 27th respectively. As the LPGA and Ladies European Tours pause for a week ahead of the 20th Solheim Cup, anticipation builds for the showdown at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, where Team Europe hopes to reclaim the trophy from the United States. The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on Thursday, September 10, at 4 p.m.
on Sky Sports+, followed by round‑the‑clock coverage across all three days of the biennial contest on Sky Sports Golf. Coverage will commence at 6 a.m. on Friday, September 11, and Saturday, September 12, with two sessions each day, and will conclude with the singles matches on Sunday, September 13, starting at 9 a.m.
Golf fans can also explore the best Sky Sports deals or stream without a contract on NOW. Beyond the tournament, Nordqvist's transition from player to captain symbolizes a broader narrative of perseverance, adaptation, and the enduring power of support networks—whether from family, teammates, or the wider golfing community.
Her story serves as an inspiring reminder that even after a career filled with triumphs and trials, new chapters can begin with the same passion and dedication that defined her playing days.