Suzann Pettersen
A fierce Norwegian golfer who capped her career by sinking the winning putt at the Solheim Cup after a 20-month break for motherhood.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Norwegian professional golfer·Birthday: April 7·Millennials
Biography
Suzann Pettersen emerged from Norway to become one of golf's most formidable and intense competitors. She turned professional in 2000 and quickly established herself as a force on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours. Known for her powerful drives and steely determination, Pettersen engaged in memorable rivalries at the top of the women's game, spending over 60 weeks ranked second in the world. Her career was defined by clutch performances in major championships and a passionate, sometimes fiery, presence on the course. She authored one of sport's great farewells in 2019: selected as a captain's pick despite being on maternity leave for nearly two years, she holed the decisive putt to win the Solheim Cup for Europe and immediately retired, walking off the green into a new life.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Suzann was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Suzann Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Suzann's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won 15 LPGA Tour events, including two major championships: the 2007 LPGA Championship and the 2013 Evian Championship.
- Spent over 60 weeks as the world number two golfer, consistently challenging for the top spot.
- Secured the winning point for Team Europe at the 2019 Solheim Cup with a dramatic putt on the final hole.
- Represented Europe in nine Solheim Cup matches, contributing to eight team victories.
- Earned 22 professional victories worldwide across the LPGA and Ladies European Tours.
Did You Know?
She was a talented skier in her youth and didn't focus solely on golf until her late teens.
Pettersen was appointed a Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for her contributions to sports.
She served as a vice captain for the European Solheim Cup team in 2021 and 2023.
Her son, Herman, was born in 2018, during the extended break that preceded her final tournament.
“I never give up. I fight until the end.”
