Women’s Open 2021 R4
August 19-22
Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Scotland
$5,800,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 3

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Anna Nordqvist claimed her third Major title after a thrilling success at the AIG Women's Open at Carnoustie.

"I've been waiting for this win for a while (first win since 2017). 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."

Women’s Open 2021 R4

The Swede closed with an excellent three-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.

Women’s Open 2021 R4

“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.

“I feel like things have been coming together. I saw a lot of good things coming last year and a lot of good things happening this year. To be able to get things clicking, I felt like last week at the Scottish Open I played really well. I hit the ball really well in that wind so I think that was a confidence boost for me. There's just something about golf that keeps driving me.”

Women’s Open 2021 R4

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.

“I thought five or six-under-par was needed today so I'm very happy with the way I played," said Hall. "I had some good eagles that helped me along the way. Walking down the last, obviously in a very different position to three years ago, it's still the best feeling in the world contending at a tournament. My driving has been very consistent so that helped me hit a lot of fairways to make birdie chances.”

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.

Women’s Open 2021 R4

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.

“I'm not going to try to dwell on what could have happened. I played really well and I putted well, too," said Salas. "Yeah, I think I played well all week. I only had a few bogeys, I kept it out of trouble, and I stayed patient coming down the stretch. I had some crucial up-and-downs and I'm really proud of how I finished. I think it was a great championship.”

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.

Coming out on top of the international field of 144 players, which contained as many as 32 nationalities, Nordqvist lifted the iconic trophy in front of the delighted Carnoustie crowds.

With the fans enjoying glorious spells of afternoon sunshine – total attendance for the week was 28,758 – Louise Duncan shone to claim the prestigious Smyth Salver for leading amateur.

Women’s Open 2021 R4

Ahead of her Curtis Cup debut at Conwy in Wales next week, the Scot raised hopes of a title challenge after making a birdie on the first to sit one off the lead. In the end, the 21-year-old had to settle for a level-par round of 72 and a tie for 10th place on seven-under-par, which secures her return for the 2022 AIG Women's Open at Muirfield.

“I thought I handled it very well. I thought I would crumble a wee bit but seemed to hold my nerve out there and played well on the last day which was ultimately my goal," said Duncan. "The fans were definitely out there. It was great to hear them cheering for me and I can't thank them enough. I'll definitely take this into the next few events and see whatever comes my way.”

Duncan joins an impressive roll of honour to claim the Smyth Salver, including Major champions Michelle Wie West (2005), Nordqvist (2008), Danielle Kang (2011), Lydia Ko (2012, 2013) and Hall (2013).

Women’s Open 2021 R4