Europe's Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist announces playing retirement

Anna Nordqvist, the captain of Europe's Solheim Cup team, has announced her retirement from professional golf as a player, concluding an 18-year career.

The 39-year-old Swedish golfer shared her decision in a video on the LPGA website on Wednesday, stating that she is stepping away from competition to focus on her health and family. Her final tournament will be the FM Championship in Boston this week.

Nordqvist has a distinguished Solheim Cup history, having participated in nine editions of the prestigious team event. She also served as a vice-captain in the last two tournaments. This year, she will lead the European team as captain at Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands from September 11 to 13, with Europe aiming to regain the trophy after losing to the Americans on home soil in 2024.

"It's with a grateful heart I am retiring from playing professional golf in Boston this week," Nordqvist said. "I don't know how to say goodbye to something that means so much to me, but this is going to be my last week walking inside the ropes competing on tour."

Nordqvist is a three-time major winner, and her retirement marks the end of a significant era for European women's golf. Her focus will now shift to her captaincy role, where she will aim to inspire her team to victory against the United States.

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It's with a grateful heart I am retiring from playing professional golf in Boston this week. I don't know how to say goodbye to something that means so much to me, but this is going to be my last week walking inside the ropes competing on tour.