Foreign News
Anna Nordqvist announces retirement ahead of FM Championship
NORTON, Mass. — Three-time major champion Anna Nordqvist announced on Wednesday that she’s retiring after the FM Championship this week at TPC Boston.
“I wanted to like finish my career at a note when I was enjoying the game, and I felt like it was in a good place on and off the course,” Nordqvist said.
The 39-year-old wraps up her 18-year-career on the LPGA Tour in the Northeast this week with quite the résumé to show for it. Nine LPGA wins, including three major titles and nine Solheim Cup appearances as a player and this year as the European captain.
“I said when I took the captaincy job that I wanted to do this journey with the girls, and this is basically the last event before the Solheim Cup, so I feel like I’ve done and I’ve given my all and I’ve been there for them along the way,” Nordqvist said.
Solheim Cup rookie Lottie Woad said it’s been really cool to play alongside her captain on tour and that she’s gotten to know Nordqvist a lot more because of it.
“I think it would be even more special if we win, kind of her last hurrah, I guess,” Woad said.
Woad remembers watching Nordqvist on TV win the AIG Women’s Open, her last win on Tour, back in 2021 and reflected on how special it’s been to have someone to look up to from Europe. “Definitely been one of the role models for me. For her to be the captain in my first Solheim, I think it’s perfect,” Woad added.
Retirement, obviously, wasn’t something the Swedish player haphazardly decided on mid-week at TPC Boston, rather Nordqvist said she decided early this year that this would be her final season, but kept it to herself. Keeping the decision private allowed her to fully enjoy the final stretch of her journey and do something for herself, which she said has been really nice.
“Being able to enjoy Evian and enjoy AIG Women’s Open and all those like last moments, last major, last Evian and stuff, and not getting questions asked about it,” Nordqvist said.
Like many great athletes facing retirement, Nordqvist is emotionally reflecting on what the game has given her over the years, dating back to her collegiate days at Arizona State, where she played golf on a full scholarship. A school and a state that gave her so much, she still calls it home.
“I had a lot of people doubting me and said I was never going to make it. But it’s amazing what you can do if you believe in yourself, but if you chase after something, you put in a lot of hard work,” Nordqvist said tearfully.
While Nordqvist has had a remarkable run, she’s been dealt her share of hardship the last few years from the death of her husband, Kevin McAlpine, in 2023 to stomach surgery in 2024 for a benign cyst and tumor. While she says she wishes her road could have been a bit easier at times, Nordqvist says she has no regrets.
“It challenged me many times, but I kept standing up and I kept trying to do my best,” she explained.
As for what’s next, she said she plans to enjoy the tournament this week, knowing she was able to go out on her own terms. And, then of course, the Solheim Cup in the Netherlands in two weeks. After that, Nordqvist said she’s ready for the next stage of life.
“I have dreams of one day having my own family, so I feel like there is a time and place for everything,” Nordqvist said. “But I’m quite content with what I’ve done and what I accomplished, and it’s time to go focus on my family and focus on my health.”
When all is said and done, Nordqvist said she’s been grateful to live the dream all of these years.
“It’s been really cool to call this my job,” she said, “because it doesn’t feel like I worked a day in my life so far.”