Major golf champion reveals ‘upward battle’ after recent shock retirement at 39

Anna Nordqvist stunned the golf world on August 23 when she announced she would be retiring from professional golf.

The 39-year-old Swede announced her decision to put her clubs in the bag for good in statement on Instagram.

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“It’s with a grateful heart I am retiring from playing professional golf in Boston this week,” she wrote in the caption, alongside a lengthy video.

“20 years ago, I came to the US with two suitcases, a golf bag and a dream of one day competing with the best golfers in the world,” she said in the video.

“While my dreams never quite took me this far, I am very proud of myself for how far I’ve come and grateful for the dream I’ve been able to live ever since.

“I can’t say it has always been easy, especially being so far away from my family, but they have supported me every step of the way. I’ve fallen so many times, but I never gave up and I stood up every time I fell.

“I am forever grateful for everything this game has given me and the people I have met along the way. 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.

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

“Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this journey and been part of it along the way. It has meant the world to me.”

Nordqvist almost retired a decade earlier

Nordqvist turned pro back in 2009 after earning her LPGA card, and her final playing appearance came at the FM Championship on Sunday.

After finishing T38 after a level-par final round, the Swede candidly opened up on how she almost retired over a decade earlier.

“So many people think your career is a straight line upwards,” she said in Boston on Sunday. “I feel like I’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs both on and off the course.

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“I think what I want to be remembered for is the fact that I never gave up. At times it took me a couple years to get back on my feet. At times in my life, it’s just been – you know, I thought about quitting in 2012, 2013. I was really, really close to walking away.

“If my younger brother hadn’t come out and caddied for me that summer, I don’t think I would be sitting here [today]. So, he saved my career.

“And the last couple years too. It’s been a little bit of an upward battle, but I battled through it, and I hope I’ve shown a lot of people, never give up and keep fighting. You know, it’s worth coming out on the other side. This game teaches you a lot.”

What lies ahead for Nordqvist after, though, is currently uncertain, although she hopes that she will remain involved in the sport in one way or another.

“It’s really amazing what you put your body through,” she said. “It’s been only jet lag, no sleeping, and I think last week I felt quite numb. I think part of me just feels like I didn’t want to count down the days because I just felt like I just want to keep playing.

“But this week’s been quite hard. I played so well on Friday; had so much momentum; finished with a double bogey from really nowhere and maybe feel like killed a little bit of momentum. Yesterday I just felt so tired and exhausted mentally, then today I felt really good.”

Nordqvist finishes her career having won three major titles, and nine LPGA Tour titles, whilst she is also a two-time Olympian.

Her final act in the sport will come when she captains Team Europe at the Solheim Cup from September 11-13.