Anna Nordqvist closed the chapter on an 18‑year professional golf career with a 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 announced earlier this week that the Boston event would be her swan song, finished her last round on the ninth green at TPC Boston surrounded by fellow competitors and caddies. She posted a level‑par 72 for the day, ending the tournament one stroke under par for the week – a modest but dignified finish to a storied career.
Nordqvist departs the game with an impressive résumé: 16 professional 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 assembled a body of work that places her among the most accomplished European golfers of her generation, a legacy that includes both individual triumphs and team successes. The emotional weight of the moment was evident as 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 final round with the legendary Swede. "Nothing ever prepares you for this moment," Nordqvist admitted.
"I’m definitely going to miss it. 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 pressed about how she would like to be remembered, Nordqvist offered a candid reflection: "Many people think a career is a straight line upward. I’ve experienced a lot of ups and downs both on and off the course.
What I want people to remember is that I never gave up." She recalled moments when she contemplated retirement: "I thought about 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.
He saved my career." Her first major came as a rookie in 2009, and she added the Evian Championship in 2017. Yet 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," she said. "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 European victories. After serving as a playing vice‑captain in the two most recent editions, she now turns her full attention to the captaincy – a role that 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 explained.
"The satisfaction of seeing your hard work pay off won’t come until the actual Solheim Cup. Hopefully the players will see all the effort me and the rest of the background team have invested, because it really takes a village to make an event like that happen." Family has been at the core of both her decision to retire and the plans for what follows.
Nordqvist acknowledged that she has "missed so many birthdays" over two decades of sacrifice, and she looks forward to reuniting with nieces and nephews in the Netherlands in two weeks, where Bernardus Golf will host the first assignment of her new chapter as captain. The farewell gifts began even before the final round. Former world No. 1 Lydia Ko presented her with a bottle of champagne earlier in the week, which turned out to be a 2009 vintage – the year Nordqvist’s rookie season began, making it a symbolic tribute.
A second bottle, a 2017 vintage, was waiting for her as she stepped off the course, commemorating 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 laughed, noting the tears that had fallen throughout the day.
The tournament itself was won by China’s Ruoning Yin, who edged out South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim by two strokes after a dramatic finish that included a daring decision on the final par‑five. 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 amassed six LPGA titles, including a major, before turning 24 – a distinction last achieved by Nelly Korda.
Other notable performances included a tied‑50th finish for World No. 1 Korda in her final outing before the Solheim Cup, and solid showings from England’s Charley Hull and Lottie Woad. The LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour now observe a brief hiatus as the 20th Solheim Cup approaches, set to be contested 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, September 10, at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports+, with comprehensive coverage of all three days of the biennial competition on Sky Sports Golf. Broadcasts begin at 6 a.m.
on Friday, September 11, and continue through Saturday, September 12, with two sessions each day, culminating in the singles matches on Sunday, September 13, starting at 9 a.m. Golf enthusiasts can also explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream without a contract via NOW. As Nordqvist transitions from player to captain, she carries forward a legacy of perseverance, humility, and a deep love for the game. Her story serves as a reminder that success is rarely a straight line, and that the support of family, friends, and the broader golfing community can sustain an athlete through the toughest of seasons.
With her captaincy, she aims to inspire the next generation of European golfers, applying the same determination that kept her on the tour for nearly two decades. The upcoming Solheim Cup will be her first major test in this new role, and the golf world will be watching closely to see how her experience and passion translate into leadership on the international stage.