Anna Nordqvist Retires After FM Championship With 9 LPGA Tour Wins

Three-time major champion Anna Nordqvist announced her retirement from professional golf, concluding her playing career at this weekend's FM Championship in Boston.

Anna Nordqvist will conclude her professional playing career following this weekend's FM Championship in Boston. The 39-year-old Swedish golfer enters her final event ranked 118th in the world, bringing a close to a tenure that included nine LPGA Tour victories. Her most recent triumph on the tour occurred at the 2021 Women's British Open, which also marked her third and final major championship title. Throughout her time as a professional, she accumulated career earnings exceeding $14 million.

Key details

Nordqvist departs the competitive circuit with a storied history in international match play. She is scheduled to serve as the captain for Team Europe during next month's Solheim Cup, held at Bernardus in the Netherlands. As a competitor in that biennial event, she recorded a lifetime record of 17 wins, 15 losses, and 3 halves. This leadership transition follows a two-decade journey that began when she arrived in the United States with only two suitcases and a golf bag.

The decision to step away from the tour was shared via a letter read on Instagram on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Nordqvist cited a desire to prioritize her health and family as the primary motivation for ending her time walking inside the ropes. While she expressed uncertainty regarding her future endeavors beyond the captaincy in the Netherlands, she noted that this week marks her final appearance as a tour competitor. The announcement comes exactly at 12:06 PM ET, marking the end of a dream to compete against the world's elite golfers.

Latest developments

This week’s FM Championship serves as the definitive endpoint for the Swede's playing days. Nordqvist described the difficulty of saying goodbye to a sport that has defined her professional life for 20 years. Her departure leaves a legacy defined by three distinct major trophies and a consistent presence at the top of the leaderboards since her arrival in the U.S. The FM Championship field will witness the final competitive rounds of a player who successfully realized her goal of competing with the best in the world.

Beyond the nine trophies, Nordqvist’s impact is measured by her longevity across twenty seasons of elite play. Her first major victory came at the 2009 LPGA Championship, followed by a win at the 2017 Evian Championship. These milestones established her as one of the most successful European exports in the history of the women's game. The transition from active competitor to European captain represents a shift in focus toward mentorship and strategic oversight for the next generation of golfers.

Her career earnings of $14,082,522 place her among the top earners in the history of the LPGA. The 2021 victory at Carnoustie remains a highlight, where she secured a one-stroke victory to claim her third major. As she prepares for her final tee time in Boston, the golf world reflects on a career that spanned continents and decades. The FM Championship marks the final chapter for a player who arrived in America with minimal possessions and leaves as a decorated champion.