Nordqvist bids farewell: "Many doubted me"

Anna Nordqvist, widely regarded as one of Sweden's greatest professional golfers, is set to retire from the sport. The three-time major champion announced that her final tournament will be the upcoming LPGA event in Boston.

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The last few years have been really tough for me.

At 39 years old, Nordqvist stated her desire to focus on her family and personal well-being. "I am 39 years old and I have dreams of starting my own family one day, so I feel there is a time and place for everything," she explained during a press conference. "But I am very satisfied with what I have done and what I have achieved, and it is time to focus on my family and my health."

Nordqvist's career has been marked by significant success, including three major titles, placing her second only to Annika Sörenstam among Swedish golfers. Despite her achievements, the past few years have been personally challenging. She navigated marital difficulties that preceded the death of her husband in late 2023 and has dealt with high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which impacted her performance on the course.

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I am 39 years old and I have dreams of starting my own family one day, so I feel there is a time and place for everything. But I am very satisfied with what I have done and what I have achieved, and it is time to focus on my family and my health.

She also underwent surgery to remove a benign cyst and tumor in her abdomen in November 2024. "The last few years have been really tough for me," Nordqvist admitted. "This year, I finally started to feel like myself again within the ropes, and I wanted to end my career while I was still enjoying the game and felt I was in a good place, both on and off the course."

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I dreamed of playing a Solheim Cup and I have played nine, and now I am captain, which is a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience and probably the proudest moment of my career.

Looking ahead, Nordqvist will captain Europe's Solheim Cup team in the prestigious match against the USA in the Netherlands. She described this role as a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" and potentially the proudest moment of her career. She hopes her journey, marked by overcoming doubts and setbacks, will inspire others, particularly women in sports.

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Many doubted me and said I would never succeed.