🎧 Listen In with The Lydia Ko Deep Dive: An exclusive 19th Hole Magazine audio feature unpacking the relentless drive and lasting legacy of golf’s youngest Hall of Famer. Press play to hear her story.
When Lydia Ko birdied the final hole at St Andrews to claim the 2024 AIG Women’s Open title, she didn’t just add a third major championship to her resume. She cemented her place among the greatest in women’s golf. That dramatic victory, capped by a poised putt at the Home of Golf, was a masterclass in grit, precision, and patience. Now, as the LPGA’s youngest-ever Hall of Fame inductee, Ko is headed to Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales (July 30–August 3) with a new milestone and a singular question: Can Lydia Ko do it again?
At just 27, Ko’s resume reads like a veteran’s. A three-time major winner, Olympic silver and gold medalist, and former World No. 1, Ko achieved LPGA immortality in 2024 by surpassing the elusive 27-point threshold required for Hall of Fame induction, securing her spot with a gold medal performance at the Paris Olympics. And yet, despite her accolades, Ko remains as driven as ever. “Golf keeps us humble,” she said in a recent interview. “There’s always something to improve. That’s what keeps me motivated.”
Lydia Ko | ECCO Golf
Lydia Ko | ECCO Golf
“Golf keeps us humble. There’s always something to improve. That’s what keeps me motivated.”
Ko’s motivation was on full display during her St Andrews comeback, where she clawed her way from three strokes behind on Sunday to triumph in a chaotic, rain-drenched finale. Birdies on 10 and 14 kept her in the hunt, while clutch pars down the stretch set up her six-foot birdie on 18, vaulting her to 7-under and into the clubhouse lead. As the field faltered behind her, Ko’s steady hand and mental toughness proved decisive.
That win at the Old Course not only showcased her championship pedigree but also added to a year defined by resilience and legacy. It was the kind of storybook ending most players dream of. For Ko, though, it was just another chapter. She now looks to defend her title at a venue as rugged as it is revered. Royal Porthcawl’s seaside links present a fresh challenge, with windswept fairways and thick rough demanding strategic brilliance, a style of play Ko has proven she can master under pressure.
Lydia Ko | ECCO Golf
While Ko’s on-course focus remains razor sharp, she also credits her support system for her success. That includes longtime partner ECCO Golf, whose performance footwear has accompanied her throughout many of her career-defining wins. “The brand has quite literally been with me every step of the way,” she said. Select editorial images for this feature were provided by ECCO, which continues to support Ko in both form and function as she chases greatness.
“The brand has quite literally been with me every step of the way.”
What makes Ko’s story so compelling is not just her precocious start—winning her first professional title at 14—or her consistent dominance, but her perspective. Whether discussing her dual heritage (honored in her ECCO signature shoe line) or contemplating life beyond the ropes, Ko speaks with a maturity and balance that belies her age.
Lydia Ko | ECCO Golf
Still, make no mistake: she’s not done. “I’m still thinking 30,” she’s said of her tentative retirement age. But between now and then? There’s history to be made.
As the 2025 AIG Women’s Open approaches, Lydia Ko isn’t just defending a title; she’s pursuing yet another legacy-defining milestone, this time with even greater stakes. The championship, formerly known as the Women’s British Open, features a record-setting $9.5 million prize purse in 2025, with $1,425,000 awarded to the winner. That’s a notable jump from the $9 million purse in 2024, reflecting the tournament’s growing prestige. Given Ko’s track record of rising to the occasion, betting against her would be a fool’s errand.
