Lydia Ko, the 23-time LPGA winner, tasted success remarkably early, but her journey was not without its share of challenges and mental stress – the kind that often accompanies a professional golfing career.
And the fun fact? She still embraces them all, as seen in her latest interview with Golf.com. The three-time Olympic champion walked viewers through the significance of each trophy in her ‘trophy room’, including her early wins.
The LPGA pro started winning at just 15, bagged the player of the year award at just 17 when she was just ‘the girl in specs.’ In total, Ko snagged 14 titles as a teenager.
But just like her success came early, Ko was quick to decide on her retirement from professional golf. It happened last year after the 28-year-old opened the lid on her retirement plan before 30, just as she grabbed the Olympic golf medal.
That move sparked curiosity, with some speculating that Ko might be seeking a better work-life balance, similar to LPGA star Lexi Thompson, who transitioned to part-time golf.
Ko’s own words offer insight into the pressures she faced, as she sarcastically remarked, “Oh, I cry about golf all the time,” during the interview.
She further elaborated on her emotional struggles, recalling a particularly tough moment at age 12:
“I remember when I was 12, I had to play 36 strokes or something for my birthday, for my New Zealand stroke play and I shot like 79 and was like – ‘I suck, I hate golf, I hate me.’”
The vivid memory of that frustration was etched in her mind, especially since it happened while she was “eating Korean black bean noodles and just like crying.”
Ko’s intense passion for the game was evident, as she explained that her emotional investment brought both “happy tears and upset tears.”
As Lydia Ko opened up about her struggles, she shares one particularly upsetting moment that is still clear in her mind. It was when the pro was 23, playing at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Ko recounted:
“I had a really good round the first day at the Walmart and it was the first time I kind of shot under par in a couple months.” She carded 71 in the first round.
Sadly, her momentum faltered the next day, as she struggled with consistency, hitting “a few chips like in the same up and down, up and down.”
Ko shared how, out of frustration, she called her husband Jun, saying, “No, I don’t know why.”
She further shared how Jun’s calm response, “Hey, like golf is not just it to your life,” offered a different perspective. Yet, her frustration ran deep, making the situation intensely personal.
Ko admitted that when Jun tried to calm her down, she argued, “You don’t know what you’re talking about it. It’s just everything was just so personal.” As Ko reflected on her relationship with her husband, it became clear that his presence has been a game-changer in her life and career.
It was also evident as Lydia shared, “Golf takes up a lot of time, and my identity is so connected to it,” she confessed, revealing the all-consuming nature of her profession.
However, Jun’s presence has helped her realize that there’s more to her identity than just being “the golfer Lydia Ko.”
This shift in perspective has been instrumental in bringing balance to her life, allowing her to navigate the pressures of professional golf with greater ease and perspective.
The stellar impact is also visible in her recent performance. The 28-year-old is still on the run actively, as reflected by her recent win on March 2nd, where she carded a 3-under 69 to snag the HSBC Women’s World Championship title.
Beyond being a calming influence, Jun also shares her passion for golf, and the couple has developed a deeper bond over shared moments, both on and off the course.
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