Shock as Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist announces retirement from professional golf

European Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist has announced she will retire from professional golf following this week's FM Championship in Boston, bringing a surprise end to her playing career.

Nordqvist confirmed the news on social media, revealing that the LPGA Tour event will be her final tournament as a professional player.

The 38-year-old Swede, who has enjoyed a distinguished 20-year career, said the decision had been made with her health and family firmly in mind.

"It's with a grateful heart I am retiring from playing professional golf in Boston this week," Nordqvist confirmed with a video message. 

Reflecting on her journey, Nordqvist recalled arriving in the United States two decades ago with little more than her golf equipment and a dream of competing at the highest level.

She went on to establish herself as one of Europe's leading players, becoming a familiar presence in the Solheim Cup and a respected figure on both sides of the Atlantic.

Nordqvist's decision comes at a particularly significant moment in her career. 

She was recently appointed captain of Team Europe for the 2026 Solheim Cup, meaning she will now prepare for the prestigious biennial contest from a different perspective.

The Swede admitted that walking away from competitive golf was an emotional decision after so many years inside the ropes.

"I don't know how to say goodbye to something that means so much to me," she said, before confirming that this would be her final week competing on tour.

Nordqvist also paid tribute to her family and the people who had supported her throughout a career that has taken her away from home for much of her life.

While she has yet to reveal exactly what comes next, Nordqvist made it clear that stepping away from playing will allow her to prioritise her wellbeing and spend more time with those closest to her.

"I am not sure what the future has in store for me," she said. "But it is with a grateful heart I have decided to retire from playing professional golf to focus on my health and my family."

Her final appearance will therefore carry extra significance, as Nordqvist prepares to close the playing chapter of a career that has spanned two decades before turning her attention fully towards leading Europe in the Solheim Cup.