Anna Nordqvist, a 39-year-old Swedish golfer, announced on August 26 that she will retire from professional golf after the FM Championship in Boston this week [1, 2, 3]. She ends an 18-year career with nine LPGA Tour wins, five Ladies European Tour victories, and three major championships, including the 2009 LPGA Championship, 2017 Evian Championship, and 2021 Women's Open [2].
Nordqvist earned $14.1 million in prize money throughout her career and was ranked 118th in the world at retirement, with recent top-30 finishes at the 2026 Women’s Open and July’s Evian Championship [2]. She described her farewell as emotional: "It's with a grateful heart I am retiring from playing professional golf in Boston this week" and said she does not know how to say goodbye to the sport that has meant so much to her [1, 2].
Beyond her playing career, Nordqvist has been a consistent presence at the Solheim Cup, having played in nine events and served as vice-captain in the last two editions [1, 2, 3]. She will captain Team Europe at the Solheim Cup from September 11 to 13, 2026, at Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands. Europe aims to reclaim the trophy after the United States won on home soil in 2024 [1, 3].
Nordqvist’s personal life has been marked by challenges. In 2023, her husband Kevin McAlpine died suddenly at age 39 during their divorce proceedings [2]. She also had a benign stomach cyst removed in the summer of 2024 [2]. She explained her decision to retire as a way to focus on her health and family, saying, "I'm not sure what the future has in store for me, but it's with a grateful heart I have decided to retire from playing professional golf to focus on my health and my family" [1, 2, 3].
Her last competitive appearance will be at the FM Championship in Boston this week. She will next lead Team Europe as captain at the Solheim Cup starting September 11.
