No, it’s not a version of Robin Hood with a penchant for shopping. A year after sinking a 129ft putt that propelled Europe to its first Solheim Cup victory in 15 years, Anna Nordqvist has announced she will be retiring from the game.
Nordqvist has struggled with a stress fracture in her back that required surgery last summer, and has been playing under a heavy strapping ever since.
“Hopefully we will have a nice little retirement before they try to take me away,” she said. “I don’t really see why they would try to do that.”
A bronze statue of the former Gothenburg Ladies Open winner at the tournament is a further indication of the golfing legacy Nordqvist has left. Her brother-in-law Henrik Stenson also represented Europe for much of his career and has been rewarded with a Ryder Cup debut this week.
Nordqvist has been plagued by injuries in recent years but said she never wanted to stop playing – and it would be heartbreak for those who played alongside her this week not to see her on course next year.
“I played really well the last two years, and I feel like I am in a good rhythm right now,” she said. “I had a really good winter training. I was able to take the right amount of time and get it right for the season.”
Nordqvist is also grateful for the support of her family, particularly her husband Matt, who is also her coach and works with all members of the Swedish team at the LPGA Tour. “He’s been unbelievable all along, and now it’s my turn to be there for him, when he needs me. Hopefully we’ll see a lot of tournaments like this and maybe even more, we just don’t know yet.”
