Photo: Tristan Jones

Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist won her third Major after clinching a one-shot victory at the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie. The Solheim Cup stalwart held the overnight lead alongside Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen at nine-under-par.

Nordqvist rolled in her first birdie of the day on the sixth hole and added two more on the eighth and ninth holes. A bogey on 12 didn’t faze the Swede who made another birdie on 14 before she rolled in a par on the last to secure another Major win.

“I have been waiting for this one for a while. I haven’t won in a couple of years. There has been a lot of downs, a lot of hard times so I think this makes it feel even sweeter. I could only dream about winning the British Open. I won the Smyth Salver in 2008 and little did I know a few years later with a lot of dreams and a lot of hard work,” said the six-time Solheim Cup player. I’m so happy to be here. My husband lives 20 minutes away from here, I was supposed to get married 20 minutes away from here. This place is just truly special. I have never seen Carnoustie in this great of a shape, everyone has done such a great job. I have loved the fans being back and having an atmosphere.”

Three players finished in a tie for second place on 11-under-par including England’s Georgia Hall, who set the late clubhouse lead.

The 2018 Women’s Open champion kick-started her round with an eagle on the sixth, before adding a birdie on the seventh.

Hall bounced back from consecutive bogeys on eight and nine with birdies on 11 and 14, plus another eagle on 12 for a round of 67.

“I thought five or six-under was needed today, so I’m very happy with the way I played. I had some good eagles that helped me along the way. I holed some putts today which I holed absolutely none yesterday, so I was happy to get some in on the front nine and managed to par my way in,” said Hall.

Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom produced a round of 68 which included six birdies and two bogeys to finish alongside Hall.

While American Lizette Salas carded a bogey-free round of 69 to be among the runner-up finishers.

The best round of the day went to Australia’s Minjee Lee who made seven birdies and dropped one shot on her way to a 66, to finish tied for fifth alongside Koerstz Madsen.

Germany’s Leonie Harm claimed seventh place after a final round of 67, alongside Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit.

Harm said: “My swing coach for the past 13 years is from here and this is his favourite course, so I was prepared for it being brutal but I’m positively surprised. It was still a challenge. I really enjoyed the experience.”

After a phenomenal week at Carnoustie, Scottish amateur Louise Duncan took home the Smyth Salver with rounds of 68, 73, 68 and 72 to finish T10 for the championship.

In the 2021 Race to Costa del Sol, Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul still leads the way and has 2,047.46 points to her name. https://ladieseuropeantour.com/costa-del-sol-order-of-merit/

Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou is second with 1,239.85 while Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen is third (1,101.27).

The big mover is AIG Women’s Open champion Nordqvist, who has climbed up to fourth place with 946.91 points, and Germany’s Harm is fifth with 829.50.