Women's British Open 2021: Anna Nordqvist Holds Off Crowded Field for Win

Rob Goldberg @@TheRobGoldbergFeatured Columnist IVAugust 22, 2021

Sweden's Anna Nordqvist plays a driver from the 5th tee during the final round of the Women's British Open golf championship, in Carnoustie, Scotland, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

AP Photo/Scott Heppell

Anna Nordqvist edged in front of crowded field to win the 2021 AIG Women's Open.

The Swedish golfer finished her run at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland with a 69 during Round 4 on Sunday. It put her 12 strokes under par for the tournament, one ahead of three others in second place.

Nanna Koerstz Madsen was tied for the lead going into the last hole until a double-bogey dropped her into a tie for fifth.

The British Open crown represents the third major title in Nordqvist's career while earning a record payout of $870,000 for the latest win. The prize fund of $5.8 million is the largest ever in women's golf.

Final Leaderboard

1. Anna Nordqvist (-12)

T2. Georgia Hall (-11)

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T2. Madelene Sagstrom (-11)

T2. Lizette Salas (-11)

T5. Minjee Lee (-10)

T5. Nanna Koerstz Madsen (-10)

T7. Patty Tavatanakit (-9)

T7. Leonie Harm (-9)

9. Moriya Jutanugarn (-8)

Full leaderboard and stats available at LPGA.com.

Anna Nordqvist and Nanna Koerstz Madsen entered the round as co-leaders, and the final pairing remained in front heading into their last few holes.

Both players were especially impressive around the green during Sunday's round:

AIG Women’s Open @AIGWomensOpen
A touch of class 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/KoerstzMadsen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KoerstzMadsen</a> is still right in contention 🇩🇰<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AIGWO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AIGWO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldClass?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldClass</a> <a href="https://t.co/O3IFSix7t3">pic.twitter.com/O3IFSix7t3</a>

AIG Women’s Open @AIGWomensOpen
So so close from <a href="https://twitter.com/ANordqvist?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ANordqvist</a>! Who needs to chip.. 😯 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AIGWO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AIGWO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldClass?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldClass</a> <a href="https://t.co/ekE1vDejaJ">pic.twitter.com/ekE1vDejaJ</a>

The two remained tied in first place heading into the 72nd hole of the tournament.

Koerstz Madsen couldn't take advantage of her opportunity, however, hitting it into the bunker before a shank out of the sand led to a double bogey.

Ewan Murray @mrewanmurray
As painful finishes go, that's right up there. Nanna Koerstz Madsen slices into a 72nd hole bunker then shanks one when tied for the lead... not even a second place as consolation.

Shane Bacon @shanebacon
Shanks are like flat tires - can’t do anything to avoid them and they tend to show up at the worst possible times. Also, most people don’t know how to fix them so it’s a collective look of hands on the hips all hoping someone has the solution.

Nordqvist only needed to par for the win, and she did her job with a simple two-putt:

AIG Women’s Open @AIGWomensOpen
What a moment for Anna Nordqvist! A true Champion in front of the greatest fans 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AIGWO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AIGWO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldClass?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldClass</a> <a href="https://t.co/jxRLMiYeCy">pic.twitter.com/jxRLMiYeCy</a>

The 34-year-old became the rare experienced player to win a major title in the process:

Justin Ray @JustinRayGolf
Anna Nordqvist's win snaps a run of 9 consecutive first-time major champions in the women's game, the longest such streak all-time.

As many as six players were tied for the lead at one point Sunday, but it was Nordqvist who came through with a four-birdie round.

Early in the round, the big story was the play of Minjee Lee. The Australian started the round five strokes off the lead but quickly moved in front thanks to a final round score of 66.

She tallied seven birdies on her way to finishing 10 strokes under par.

LPGA @LPGA
.<a href="https://twitter.com/minjeegolf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@minjeegolf</a> is making a habit out of amazing performances on the final day of majors 👏 The 2021 <a href="https://twitter.com/EvianChamp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EvianChamp</a> Winner has the solo lead at the <a href="https://twitter.com/AIGWomensOpen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AIGWomensOpen</a> 😳 <a href="https://t.co/PYUIMnrzQY">pic.twitter.com/PYUIMnrzQY</a>

AIG Women’s Open @AIGWomensOpen
Out on her own 👏 A seventh birdie of the day for Minjee Lee and she leads at -1⃣1⃣ as she heads to the 17th.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AIGWO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AIGWO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldClass?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldClass</a> <a href="https://t.co/MmJZz9ZL0f">pic.twitter.com/MmJZz9ZL0f</a>

A bogey on No. 18 ruined her perfect round, but she showed that it would take a low number for someone to win this event.

Georgia Hall was the next to fly up the leaderboard thanks to a pair of eagles:

AIG Women’s Open @AIGWomensOpen
And <a href="https://twitter.com/georgiahall96?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@georgiahall96</a> makes an eagle at 6 to get within one 🐦 Outstanding action at Carnoustie this afternoon!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AIGWO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AIGWO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldClass?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldClass</a> <a href="https://t.co/rbGTPhrthx">pic.twitter.com/rbGTPhrthx</a>

AIG Women’s Open @AIGWomensOpen
A second eagle of the day for <a href="https://twitter.com/georgiahall96?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@georgiahall96</a> 😮 The 2018 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AIGWO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AIGWO</a> Champion is now just one back!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldClass?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldClass</a> <a href="https://t.co/hPqCumY5vF">pic.twitter.com/hPqCumY5vF</a>

The 2018 British Open champion finished with a 67 that put her 11 strokes under par.

A few more competitors had a chance to challenge the leaders, including Madelene Sagstrom and Lizette Salas. Sagstrom was at 12 under before a bogey on the 18th hole took her out of the lead entering the clubhouse. Salas had a birdie opportunity on the final hole but also ended up at 11 strokes under par.

D.J. Piehowski @DJPie
What an unbelievably patient round from Lizette Salas. Boring pars and no bogeys. Just hangs around all day despite giving up quite a few yards to the other leaders. Awesome stuff.

It left a battle between the two 54-hole leaders for the championship, with Nordqvist eventually coming out on top.

Many of the top players in the world will now prepare for the Solheim Cup, a competition between the United States and Europe set to begin on Sept. 4.