Anna Nordqvist entered the 2026 Solheim Cup in a different role from any of her previous appearances. The Swedish star ended her LPGA Tour playing career at the FM Championship at TPC Boston after deciding early in 2026 that it would be her final season. She kept that decision largely private until shortly before her last tournament.
Nordqvist wanted to finish at a U.S. event on the tour where she had spent most of her professional career. Ending her playing career before the Solheim Cup also allowed her to concentrate completely on captaining Europe at Bernardus Golf. That decision ultimately preceded a successful captaincy, with Europe defeating the U.S. 15–13 to reclaim the cup.
Why Nordqvist chose Boston for her final event
Nordqvist said she decided early in the year that 2026 would be her final season, but she did not want the announcement to dominate the months leading into the Solheim Cup. She explained on the Quiet Please podcast that she wanted to honor the LPGA Tour, her main circuit throughout her career, by ending with a U.S. event.
The AIG Women’s Open could have provided a major-stage farewell, but its timing created a practical problem. Nordqvist was occupied with European team selections that week, and she said finishing there would not have been ideal because the captaincy already demanded so much of her attention.
Boston also allowed Nordqvist to finish playing before the Solheim Cup rather than combining two roles at Bernardus. She wanted to enter the event without having to wonder whether she would continue competing afterward, taking a personal decision out of an already demanding week.
Why did she keep the retirement private
Nordqvist deliberately avoided a farewell tour. She said she did not want to announce her retirement months in advance and then spend every interview answering additional questions about her future, especially when much of her media attention during 2026 had already centered on the Solheim Cup.
Only a small circle of family, friends, and members of her team knew about the plan. Nordqvist worked with the LPGA on the retirement letter and video while she was in Canada, allowing the public announcement to coincide with the end of her playing career.
That privacy also gave Nordqvist room to enjoy the final stretch on her own terms. She was able to compete in major events such as the Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open without turning every strong result or final appearance into another retirement storyline.
How retirement changes her Solheim Cup role
Nordqvist arrived at Bernardus solely as Europe’s captain, having ended her playing career before the competition. Her 12-player team included captain’s picks Leona Maguire, Julia Lopez Ramirez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes. Four members of the team—Lottie Woad, Lopez Ramirez, Nadaud and Rhodes—made their Solheim Cup debuts.
Nordqvist brought extensive match-play experience to the role. She represented Europe in nine consecutive Solheim Cups from 2009 through 2024, compiled a 17-15-3 record and earned 18.5 points across 35 matches. She was part of 5 European teams that won or retained the cup.
Retirement allowed Nordqvist to focus completely on preparation, partnerships and team management. Europe went on to defeat the U.S. 15–13 at Bernardus, giving Nordqvist a victory in her first Solheim Cup as captain.
Fun fact: Nordqvist made the first hole-in-one in Solheim Cup history in 2013, holing a 7-iron on the 17th hole at Colorado Golf Club to clinch a 2-and-1 foursomes victory with Caroline Hedwall.
What Nordqvist wants from the final chapter
Nordqvist described the final years of her career as exceptionally difficult. Her estranged husband, Kevin McAlpine, died unexpectedly in October 2023 while the couple were going through a divorce. In November 2024, she underwent surgery after doctors discovered a large cyst and a tumor in her stomach; both were benign.
Despite those challenges, Nordqvist continued competing and rediscovered her enjoyment of golf during the final months of her career. She tied for seventh at the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship at 13 under before choosing the FM Championship as her final LPGA Tour event.
Nordqvist finished the FM Championship at 1 under and tied for 38th after rounds of 74, 68, 73 and 72. Her second-round 68 included 7 birdies and secured her place in the weekend field, giving her an emotional final 2 rounds at TPC Boston.
A successful new role begins
Nordqvist has said that her next chapter will place greater emphasis on her family and health, although she hopes to remain involved in golf. Her first major assignment after retiring from competition ended successfully when she captained Europe to the 2026 Solheim Cup title at Bernardus Golf.
Europe and the U.S. entered the final-day singles tied 8–8, but Nordqvist’s team won 7 of the 12 matches to complete a 15–13 victory. The result improved Europe’s all-time Solheim Cup record to 8 wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie. Europe has now won or retained 3 of the last 4 editions.
Nordqvist’s preparation and resilience carried into her first captaincy. After 9 consecutive appearances as a player, she completed her transition to leadership by guiding Europe to reclaim the trophy from the U.S.
TL;DR
- Nordqvist chose a U.S. event for her final LPGA start.
- She kept the decision private to avoid a farewell tour.
- Retirement leaves her fully focused on captaining Europe at Bernardus.
- Her nine Solheim Cup appearances produced 18.5 career points.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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