Following a memorable decade on the Ladies European Tour (LET), a span which includes 167 starts, one victory and one Players’ Player of the Year accolade, Sweden’s Johanna Wrigley (nee Gustavsson) has officially announced her retirement from professional golf.
A popular figure on Tour, Wrigley confirmed the news having played her final event at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France last month in Deauville – the same site of her emotional maiden win two years prior.
“I took the decision quite early this year that it would be my last season,” Wrigley said, who birdied her final hole at Golf Barriere to end the week T14. “I then thought it would be really nice to finish my career here, in France, where I won two years ago. It’s a special place for me and a nice way to go. I have so many nice memories here and I really love the course. It’s special.”
The announcement follows a highly consistent career for Wrigley across both the LET and LET Access Series (LETAS), with the Swede earning two wins on the feeder circuit (2015 Larvik Ladies Open, 2018 Ribeira Sacra International Ladies Open) alongside her victory in France.
“I can walk away happy, because I feel like I’ve done a lot more than I expected,” the 32-year-old said. “The last few years have been great. I have made so many friends out here – my closest friends that I will be friends with forever. Special mentions go out to Sarah and Emma [Nilsson] and Jessica [Karlsson].”
Wrigley earned full playing rights on the LET in 2016 after finishing fourth in the 2015 LETAS Order of Merit. Following several solid seasons, 2020 would be a breakout year for the Swede as she secured five-top 20 finishes and qualified for her first Major at the AIG Women’s Open.
In 2022, Wrigley went a step further finishing third behind compatriots Linn Grant and Maja Stark in the year-long Order of Merit (Race to Costa del Sol), a position helped by six top-10 finishes that season.
Following several near misses, the newly-wed Wrigley would claim her long-awaited maiden LET victory at the 2023 Lacoste Ladies Open de France. Prior to the three-shot victory in Deauville, the Swede had registered four runner-up finishes on the LET, sparking emotional scenes on the 18th green.
The breakthrough win would also help Wrigley be voted Players’ Player of the Year at the 2023 end of season awards.
On the victory in France, Wrigley said: “The win is something that everyone chases, and because I didn’t chase going over to America [to play on the LPGA Tour], that was the ultimate goal for me. Playing in the Majors too was great. I’m happy to walk away now because I feel like I’ve done more than enough.”
Other career highlights for the popular Swede include medalling at the 2018 European Golf Team Championships alongside Julia Engström, Daniel Jennevret and Oscar Floren in the mixed team competition. She also captained the winning team at the 2022 Aramco Team Series – New York.
Married to husband and coach Alex in 2022, Wrigley now bids farewell to professional golf to pursue other avenues and enjoy greater family time.
“I wish I had a plan!” she jokes. “I don’t have a big plan yet. I just want to live a quiet life now for a bit. Not grind as much. I feel like I’ve done that enough. We will see. I just want to spend some time at home. Hopefully starting a family is something for us [me and Alex] in the future. There’s a lot more to life than golf so we will see. I’m excited.
“I would like to thank the LET and LET Access Series (LETAS). I learned so much here and everyone helping me along the way has been so great. Obviously Alex, as well. We both felt quite ready for it to end. But it’s been great.”
