Anna Nordqvist wins THRILLING AIG Women's Open and her third major title
Anna Nordqvist's win at Carnoustie on Sunday was her first win on the LPGA Tour since 2017.
Anna Nordqvist claimed her third major title after a thrilling success at the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie.
The Swede closed with an excellent 3-under-par 69 for a 12-under-par total and a one-shot victory over a trio of players over the famous links.
Nordqvist was level with Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen on the closing hole and the 34-year-old’s solid par-4 was good enough to triumph as her playing partner slipped to a double-bogey.
Nordqvist, who won the Women’s PGA Championship in 2009 and the Evian Championship in 2017, celebrated with her husband, Kevin McAlpine, who hails from Dundee.
England’s Georgia Hall, the 2018 Champion, Lizette Salas from the USA and another Swede, Madelene Sagstrom, all finished tied second on 11-under-par. Koerstz Madsen had to settle for a share of fifth place with Minjee Lee from Australia on 10-under-par.
What a moment for Anna Nordqvist! A true Champion in front of the greatest fans #AIGWO #WorldClass pic.twitter.com/jxRLMiYeCy
— AIG Women’s Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 22, 2021
Nordqvist, a past winner of the R&A Girls’ and Women’s Amateur championships, ignited her final-day success with three birdies in four holes from the sixth before a key par-3 save at the testing 16th hole.
A host of challengers mounted their bid on a star-studded leaderboard during a dramatic final day at the Angus venue, most notably Hall who eagled both the 6th and 12th holes in her 67.
Salas, the runner-up in 2019, also had a chance on the 18th to reach 12-under-par but just missed. It was Nordqvist’s day, as she claimed the winner's cheque of $870,000 as part of the new largest prize fund in women’s major championship golf.
"I've been waiting for this win for a while," said Nordqvist.
"There have been a lot of downs and hard times so this makes it feel even sweeter. I could only dream of winning the AIG Women’s Open.
"I obviously played really solid in the beginning today. I hit a great hybrid in there on the sixth to two-putt for birdie. I managed to get the round going."
