Nanna Koerstz Madsen Bio
Nanna Koerstz Madsen (born 23 October 1994) is a Danish professional golfer who plays on the American LPGA Tour and holds membership on the Ladies European Tour (LET). She won the 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand, becoming the first Dane ever to win an LPGA Tour event. Madsen has represented Denmark in top international competitions, including the Solheim Cup and the Olympic Games, and she is widely regarded as one of the leading figures in Danish women’s golf.
A former top-ranked European amateur, Madsen transitioned to the professional ranks in 2015 after a standout collegiate stint in the United States. She quickly earned playing privileges on both the LET and the LPGA Tour, where she has collected additional victories on the developmental Symetra Tour and the Swedish Golf Tour. Her career has been defined by steady improvement, clutch putting under pressure, and a willingness to compete on multiple tours each season.
Early Life and Background
Nanna Koerstz Madsen was born on 23 October 1994 in Smørum, Denmark. She grew up in the Danish capital region and developed an interest in golf at a young age, training in a country that has produced a steady stream of European tour players. The Danish golf scene gave her early access to competitive junior events and a clear pathway into the amateur ranks.
Her amateur career was marked by several notable victories. She won the 2012 Danish Women’s Match Play Championship and followed it with the 2013 Danish Women’s Stroke Play Championship. That same year, she earned medalist honors at the 2013 British Ladies Amateur Championship stroke play qualifier with rounds of 69 and 72. By the end of the 2014 season, she had climbed to the top of the World Amateur Golf Ranking as the best European amateur player, a sign that her game was ready for the next level.
Madsen later moved to the United States to play college golf with the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s golf team at the University of South Carolina. During her time in Columbia, she won the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate, an early indicator of her ability to perform on the American stage. She turned professional after only one semester, choosing to chase her tour dreams over the remainder of her college eligibility.
Path to Professional Golf
Madsen’s road to the professional game began in Europe. She earned her LET card by winning the Lalla Aicha Tour School Final Qualifying, joining the Ladies European Tour as a rookie in 2015. In her first season, she finished 9th on the Order of Merit, an impressive debut that confirmed she could compete week in and week out against seasoned tour veterans.
In 2016, she captured the Tipsport Golf Masters and finished 6th on the Order of Merit, further cementing her status as one of the LET’s rising stars. With two strong seasons in Europe behind her, Madsen set her sights on the LPGA Tour. She devoted the 2017 season to the Symetra Tour, the official developmental circuit of the LPGA, where she became a three-time winner and the 12th player in history to earn a so-called Battlefield Promotion to the LPGA Tour.
That promotion allowed her to play in three LPGA events between late August and early September 2017, giving her a preview of life on the biggest stage in women’s golf. She started as a full LPGA Tour rookie at the beginning of the 2018 season, and her amateur pedigree, European experience, and Symetra success gave her a strong foundation for the years that followed.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
Madsen’s professional career began on the Ladies European Tour in 2015, where she arrived with a tour card earned through the Lalla Aicha qualifying school. Her rookie season produced a 9th-place finish on the Order of Merit, a result that placed her among the top rookies in Europe and gave her confidence heading into her second year.
In 2016, she added her first LET title at the Tipsport Golf Masters and ended the season 6th on the Order of Merit. These two seasons established her as a consistent contender and set the stage for her move to the Symetra Tour in pursuit of an LPGA card.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2018–2022)
Madsen began her LPGA Tour rookie season in 2018 after earning her card the previous year. Her early LPGA results were steady rather than spectacular, as she adjusted to the depth of competition in the United States. A breakthrough moment came in 2019, when she finished runner-up at the Indy Women in Tech Championship, signaling that her first LPGA win was within reach.
She continued to post strong finishes, including a tie for 3rd at the 2021 ANA Inspiration, one of the LPGA’s five major championships. Madsen also represented Europe at the 2021 Solheim Cup, a marquee team event that pits the best European players against the top Americans. Her major and team appearances that year showed she could compete with the game’s biggest names.
Her defining moment arrived in 2022 at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Battling China’s Lin Xiyu down the stretch, Madsen drained a 10-foot eagle putt on the second playoff hole to secure the title, becoming the first Danish player ever to win an LPGA Tour event. After the victory, her Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings position jumped 22 places, from 55th to 33rd, marking her arrival as a global force in the sport.
Post-Breakthrough Era (2023–Present)
Following her historic win in Thailand, Madsen continued to climb the world rankings. A runner-up finish at the JTBC Classic on 27 March, where she lost a playoff to Atthaya Thitikul, pushed her ranking up another 13 spots to 19th in the world. She has remained a fixture inside the top tier of the Rolex Rankings, competing in major championships, international team events, and regular LPGA stops.
Her post-breakthrough years have also included continued involvement in the Solheim Cup and stable membership on the LET alongside her LPGA commitments. Madsen’s ability to split her schedule between two tours has kept her sharp and exposed her to a wide variety of courses and conditions, a competitive advantage in the modern game.
Driving Style and Strengths
Madsen is known for a balanced, ball-striker’s game that travels well to a variety of course types. Her iron play and accuracy off the tee allow her to attack pins from the fairway, and her putting has repeatedly delivered under pressure, including her eagle putt to win the 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand. Her comfort playing on both grass and links-style setups makes her a strong fit for European and American rotations alike.
Notable Events and Milestones
Madsen’s career milestones include her 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand title, which made her the first Dane to win on the LPGA Tour, her 2021 Solheim Cup appearance, and Olympic representations for Denmark at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Her three Symetra Tour wins in 2017 also stand out, as they earned her one of the rare Battlefield Promotions in tour history.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen Career Wins
Across her professional career, Nanna Koerstz Madsen has compiled verified victories on multiple tours. Her win total includes one LPGA Tour title, three Symetra Tour titles, one Ladies European Tour title, and one Swedish Golf Tour title, reflecting her success on both sides of the Atlantic.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Madsen’s lone LPGA Tour win came at the 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand, where she defeated Lin Xiyu with an eagle on the second playoff hole. The victory was historic, as it marked the first time a Danish player had won an LPGA Tour event, and it moved her into the top 35 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. She has also posted runner-up finishes and multiple top-three results in major championships, including a tie for 3rd at the 2021 ANA Inspiration.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the LPGA, Madsen has won the Tipsport Golf Masters on the LET in 2016 and has captured three titles on the Symetra Tour in 2017, the pathway that launched her American career. She has also recorded a victory on the Swedish Golf Tour and finished her 2015 LET rookie season 9th on the Order of Merit, underlining her consistency as a newcomer. Her international team appearances for Denmark at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, along with her 2021 Solheim Cup selection for Europe, round out a versatile competitive resume.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Nanna Koerstz Madsen’s parents and immediate family is limited, and she has not shared extensive details about her upbringing beyond her Danish roots in Smørum. Her family supported her early move into competitive golf, and the Danish golf community played an important role in her formative development.
Personal Life
Madsen resides in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, Denmark, while maintaining a busy travel schedule on the LPGA and LET circuits. She is active on social media, where she shares updates about her tournament life and training. Details about a spouse or children have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 LPGA Tour season, Nanna Koerstz Madsen enters as an established top-20 player and one of the most experienced Europeans on tour. Her career-best world ranking of 19th and her history of contending in majors position her as a realistic threat in the season’s biggest events. She is expected to balance her LPGA schedule with selected LET appearances, keeping her game sharp on a variety of course types.
The 2025 campaign offers Madsen a chance to add to her single LPGA victory and to push deeper into the game’s elite tier. With a Solheim Cup year on the horizon, strong showings in the spring and summer events will be important for both her ranking and her standing within the European team room. Her experience in playoffs, including her eagle-winning performance in Thailand, gives her a confidence edge in tight finishes.
If she can convert more of her top finishes into wins, Madsen has the tools to climb into the top 10 of the Rolex Rankings and contend in multiple majors. The combination of her ball-striking, course management, and putting under pressure makes the 2025 season a promising chapter in her career.