It’s been a year to remember for Lydia Ko — winning three LPGA tournaments, becoming the AIG champion and an Olympic gold medallist, and now being honoured with a Damehood.
“I was honoured to be a Member of the Order of Merit a few years ago and just to kind of have that recognition from your country.
It’s obviously special, not just for herself, “but for everyone involved because I wouldn’t be here without them”, Ko said from her New York base, prior to the news being made public.
The 27-year-old Dame — New Zealand’s youngest in history — admits she did have to consider accepting the honour.
“You don’t grow up thinking ‘I’m going to become a dame’… you might say I want to become a Hall of Famer or World No. 1 but it’s so above and very different to what we can control so I thought, ‘do I deserve it? Is this the right time?’ But to have these opportunities and for someone else to bring it up, I’m very grateful,” she said.
And it’s an honour that’s made the Kiwi golfer reflect on all she’s achieved since her family moved to New Zealand when she was just four years old.
“My life drastically changed when we moved from Korea to New Zealand, only knowing four letters of the alphabet and in the wrong order even,” she joked.
“A-B-D-C was how I knew it… to the times a few years later representing New Zealand, travelling to other countries being on the national team, those were all stepping stones to making me the person and player I am today.”
Among the many accolades in 2024, the current world number three is most proud of winning gold at the Paris Olympics, having now completed the full trifecta of medals.
“I had other things on my mind outside of gold with Hall of Fame and for all the puzzle pieces to come together, I thought the odds would were small and, to have won gold, it’s what made it so emotional for me, especially knowing like it was my last Olympics. I honestly felt like Cinderella walking with my glass slippers,” she said.
Ko then went on to win her first major in eight years just a fortnight later — a passage of time she describes as “a fairy tale stretch” — a stretch where she realised she might be able to pull off a long-held goal.
“I would love a chance to go for the career grand-slam — winning all five different majors… it’s a small circle who have done that, especially in this day and age, and the competition is high that is my goal, something I walk towards,” said Ko.
“And if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t define my career but that is the biggest thing I’m working on.”
She’s also not ruling out playing on New Zealand shores again in the future.
“Golf New Zealand and all the golfing community is excited and is working on having the New Zealand Women’s Open back. It’s hard to shoot for something that isn’t here right now from a player perspective, but I loved the New Zealand Open and I’m proud to be a former New Zealand Open Champion.
“So, I hope that becomes a part of the New Zealand golfing schedule and if that comes when I’m still playing, I’ll try my best to play,” she said.
‘We have so many amazing and successful female athletes’
There’s no denying the impact Ko’s had on the game here — a legacy she’s also extremely proud of.
“We have so many amazing and successful female athletes including Dame Sophie Pascoe, Dame Lisa Carrington, Dame Valerie Adams and so many others.
“I think all of us, while we’re playing, if we can inspire and motivate the future generations not to take up our sport but become an athlete that’s part of our job,” she said.
“My favourite thing is, after my round, doing signings — I appreciate everybody who comes to watch, but especially junior girls because I see the excitement of them when we have those interactions. It’s those little bits that makes them want to be in our shoes someday.”
Ko also has a message for anyone thinking of giving golf a go.
“Take it slow.. people think we must be on the course spending X amount of time, X amount of money and it becomes an intimidating thing but testing out whether you like the sport itself and the technique part on the driving range is a good start.
“Golf is one of the rare sports you can play as a family/group of people so it’s a good asset to have,” she said.
And who knows, you might see Ko out on course. She’s currently in New Zealand on a fleeting visit — her first in nearly three years.
“Our off season goes fast so I’m cramming in as much as I can… I’m excited to be back, have some good food and enjoy a summer Christmas because I haven’t had that since I left really so I’m excited to spend that back home,” she said.
