The AIG Women’s Open 2021

Just as an adopted child can find a guiding star in a new home, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, who makes her life in

Arizona, was embraced as one of their own in Angus by her Scottish caddie, Scottish husband and Scottish family and friends among the 8,000 or so spectators who hailed her compelling victory at Carnoustie in what was an electrifying staging of the 2021 AIG Women’s Open.

Securing the third Major title of her career, thanks to the 12-under-par total of 276 which proved sufficient to win by a stroke from Georgia Hall, Madelene Sagström and Lizette Salas, Nordqvist felt a bond with the historic links, partly because her husband, Kevin, the son of former Dundee United goalkeeper Hamish McAlpine, is a native who reckoned his wife enjoyed popular support from the galleries surpassed only by the local favourite, Louise Duncan.

A former Scottish Amateur champion and caddie for players of the calibre of Martin Laird and Lexi Thompson, Kevin decided discretion was the better part of valour when considering whether or not to carry his wife’s clubs. “I don’t think she could have won the AIG Women’s Open with me on the bag,” he smiled, “or stay married if we did…”

Instead, McAlpine’s friend Paul Cormack, from Banchory, brought the local knowledge that helped the Swede master the lay-out. Nordqvist reveres the game played beside the sea in Scotland and rates Carnoustie and Kingsbarns among her

Early leader Nelly Korda keeps an eye on the leaderboard Anna Nordqvist drives from the first tee during the final round at Carnoustie

favourite tests. Her third Major title – the previous successes were at the Women’s PGA in 2009 and the Evian in 2017 – perhaps meant the most to the Solheim Cup player because she was unsure if she would ever win again after contracting glandular fever.

“The hardest part [of the illness] was basically losing my mental and physical endurance,” she confessed. “It took about three years to get over and I think during Covid I finally had some time to be at home and slow down. My life has always gone at 110 miles an hour. It was great finally to have a little bit more time at home, not having to travel. I think it was probably the break I needed a couple of years earlier but just never gave myself. [For a while] I kept pushing, but I didn’t have that extra gear I was always used to having.”

While her rejuvenated spirit, obviously, drove her on to victory at Carnoustie, one of the technical keys to Nordqvist’s success was her researched grasp of pace on the seaside greens. “I worked a lot on speed control,” she acknowledged. “My speed

Serene on the greens

was a little bit off [in the final round] on some of the birdie putts. But I think when you’re out of position, get back in position for a par putt. I would say the best lag putt of the day Crowd favourite Anna was on 18 when it mattered the most.” With the Championship boasting a prize fund of $5.8m Nordqvist’s short-game (£4.7m) and the winner taking home $870,000 (£710,000), the AIG Women’s Open represented another leap forward for skill and local knowledge women’s golf, showcasing the world’s best players on one of the ancient game’s most challenging settings. helped see her to victory A study published by Abertay University earlier this year confirmed the impact of the AIG Women’s Open was at Carnoustie in 2021 significant far beyond the gates, not only earning £6m for the local economy, but also encouraging a rise in the numbers Words: Mike Aitken

World number one Nelly Korda – dubbed Nelly the Elegant by one astute headline writer – set the pace on a driech Scottish morning by signing for 67

England’s Georgia Hall and Scotland’s Louise Duncan share congratulations after finishing their second round at Carnoustie thinking about taking up golf and improving the perception of female professionals as elite athletes.

Once again able to floor the accelerator at Carnoustie and spearhead the field, Nordqvist started the championship on a steady note, balancing out dropped shots at the second, ninth and 10th holes with birdies at the sixth, seventh, 12th and 15th to begin the championship on 71, one under par. Not that she was making many headlines during the first round when world number one Nelly Korda – dubbed Nelly the Elegant by one astute headline writer – set the pace on a driech Scottish morning by signing for 67, five under, thanks to a brace of outstanding birdies over the closing holes created by piercing iron shots of the highest quality.

Having won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, her first Major title and two other LPGA events in 2021, the American understandably commanded much of the attention going into this event. Although she dropped strokes at three holes, Korda’s eight birdies were good enough to share the early lead with Sweden’s Sagström and Korean Sei Young Kim.

The focus of attention for the Scottish galleries, though, was on the performance of amateur champion Duncan, who finessed an eagle at the 14th as well as four birdies in an exceptional round of 68, which appeared to leave the young woman flabbergasted.

“That was a ridiculous amount of fun,” she said of an opening salvo which would eventually propel her into a share of 10th and the Smyth Salver for leading amateur.

On Friday, the demands of a hectic season drew Korda back into the pack as she carded 73 while Nordqvist kept an eye on those making the early running with another 71. This left the champion from 2018, England’s Hall, with an opportunity to grab a share of the lead, adding 69 to her 68 from the day before. The Bournemouth golfer reckoned Carnoustie had offered a pretty gentle examination thus far due to the still conditions. Even without much breeze, mark you, Hall still had to endure a double at the 15th which brought her back into a

tie with American Mina Harigae at the halfway mark. Ireland’s Leona Maguire, who would go on to capture global attention thanks to a nerveless performance at the Solheim Cup, also caught the eye with a bogey-free 67.

On Saturday, Nordqvist slipped back into that top gear which had eluded her for three long seasons. The Swede’s third round of 65 featured seven birdies, three of which were fashioned over the testing closing stretch of holes at the 14th, 15th and 17th. It was the lowest score of the week to date and rewarded her aggressive approach with the driver.

“You have to challenge some of the pot bunkers off the tee,” she observed, “or you’re going to be left standing with some really long irons in…”

Nordqvist’s exceptional golf elevated her into a share of the lead after 54 holes on nine under with Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who reached the head of affairs thanks to an impressive 68, turbo-charged by an eagle at the 12th.

Of the chasing pack on seven under, none was hailed more warmly by the crowd than Duncan, who made an exhilarating birdie three at the last to card another 68 and share third spot going into the final day, where she eventually finished with 72 for 281.

Paired together in the final group, Koerstz Madsen looked edgier on Sunday than her fellow Scandinavian. To her credit, the Dane fashioned a few notable saves and was still in the hunt coming down the last. The 18th at Carnoustie, however, can be one of the cruellest finishes in golf. While her fate fell short of Jean Van de Velde territory, watching the Scandinavian on the closing hole was still tough as she shanked a sand wedge from the front green-side bunker into the rough and ran up a double bogey.

Nordqvist, on the other hand, remained a model of serenity on the 72nd hole as she made one of the most professional pars of her career, narrowly missing the putt for birdie before celebrating among her adopted supporters.

Nordqvist slipped back into a top gear which had eluded her for three seasons

Job done: Nordqvist and caddie Paul Cormack embrace as victory is sealed

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