Lydia Ko facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Dame Lydia Ko DNZM
Ko in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Bo-Gyung "Lydia" Ko
Nickname	Lyds
Born	(1997-04-24) 24 April 1997 (age 28) Seoul, South Korea
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Residence	Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Career
College	Korea University
Turned professional	2013
Current tour(s)	LPGA Tour
Professional wins	31
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour	23
Ladies European Tour	8
LPGA of Korea Tour	1
ALPG Tour	5
Other	1
Best results in LPGA Major Championships (Wins: 3)
Kraft Nabisco C'ship	Won: 2016
LPGA Championship	2nd: 2016
U.S. Women's Open	T3: 2016
Women's British Open	Won: 2024
The Evian Championship	Won: 2015
Achievements and awards
Mark H. McCormack Medal	2011, 2012, 2013
Halberg Supreme Award	2013, 2024
New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year	2013, 2014, 2015, 2024
LPGA Vare Trophy	2021, 2022
LPGA Player of the Year	2015, 2022
LPGA Tour Money Winner	2015, 2022
LPGA Rookie of the Year	2014
Rolex Annika Major Award	2016
Best Female Golfer ESPY Award	2015, 2016
Race to the CME Globe	2014, 2015, 2022

Lydia Ko
Hangul	고보경
Hanja	高寶璟
RR	Go Bogyeong
MR	Ko Pogyŏng

Dame Lydia Ko (born 24 April 1997) is a professional golfer from New Zealand. She is a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame and the current Olympic champion. Lydia became the world's number one female golfer on 2 February 2015. At just 17 years old, she was the youngest player ever to reach this top spot in professional golf.

Lydia Ko achieved many "youngest ever" records early in her career. She was the youngest to win an LPGA Tour event at age 15. In August 2013, she became the only amateur to win two LPGA Tour events. When she won The Evian Championship in 2015, she became the youngest woman to win a major golf championship. She also holds the record for the lowest final round score in women's major golf history.

In 2014, Time magazine named Lydia one of the 100 most influential people. She was also recognized by EspnW as a top athlete influencing women's sports in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, she was named Young New Zealander of the Year. For her great contributions to golf, she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019.

In November 2022, Lydia won the CME Group Tour Championship, earning a $2 million prize. That year, she won three tournaments, received the LPGA Player of the Year award, and the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average. She also became the leading money winner on the LPGA Tour for 2022.

In August 2024, Lydia won the gold medal in women's golf at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. This victory qualified her for the LPGA Hall of Fame, making her the 35th and youngest person to be inducted at age 27. She is the first golfer in modern history to win all three Olympic medals: gold (2024), silver (2016), and bronze (2020).

Lydia Ko is also a player director on the LPGA Board. In 2025, she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to golf. She is believed to be the youngest person to receive this honor in the modern era.

Early Life and Golf Start

Lydia Ko was born in Seoul, South Korea, on 24 April 1997. Her family moved to New Zealand when she was four years old. She became a New Zealand citizen at age 12.

Lydia started playing golf at five years old. Her mother took her to the Pupuke Golf Club in Auckland, where she met professional coach Guy Wilson. He coached her until late 2013. Lydia first gained media attention in March 2005, at age seven, when she competed in the New Zealand national amateur championships.

She attended Mairangi Bay Primary and Pinehurst School in Albany, New Zealand. When she joined the professional golf tour, she continued her studies through online classes with Pinehurst. In 2015, Lydia began studying psychology online with Korea University in Seoul.

Amateur Success and Records

Lydia Ko achieved amazing success as an amateur golfer. She set several records for being the youngest winner.

Youngest Professional Winner

On 29 January 2012, Lydia Ko became the youngest person ever to win a professional golf tour event. She won the Bing Lee/Samsung Women's NSW Open on the ALPG Tour at just 14 years old. She had finished second in the same event the year before. This record was later broken by Canadian Brooke Henderson in 2012.

LPGA Tour Wins as an Amateur

On 26 August 2012, at 15 years and four months, Lydia became the youngest winner of an LPGA Tour event. She won the CN Canadian Women's Open. She was only the fifth amateur to win an LPGA Tour event, and the first in over 43 years. The prize money for her win went to the runner-up, Inbee Park, because Lydia was still an amateur.

Lydia successfully defended her title at the 2013 CN Canadian Open. She won by five strokes. Again, as an amateur, the $300,000 winner's share went to the second-place finisher, Karine Icher.

Professional Golf Career

Lydia Ko turned professional in October 2013. The LPGA Tour allowed her to join even though she was under 18, which is usually the minimum age. The tour commissioner, Mike Whan, noted that it was rare to welcome a rookie who had already won two LPGA Tour championships as an amateur.

2014: Rookie of the Year

In 2014, Lydia won three tournaments. On 27 April, she earned her first LPGA Tour win as a professional at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. She celebrated her 17th birthday during this tournament. She also won the Marathon Classic and the CME Group Tour Championship. Lydia was named the LPGA Rookie of the Year.

2015: World Number One and Major Win

Lydia won five times in 2015. On 2 February, she became the world's No. 1 female golfer after finishing second at the Coates Golf Championship. She won the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open and the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women's Open.

She also won the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic again. On 23 August, she won her third Canadian Pacific Women's Open in a playoff.

On 13 September 2015, Lydia won her first major championship, The Evian Championship. She was the youngest major champion in women's golf history. Her final round score of 63 was the lowest ever in a women's major. By October 2015, she became the youngest player to win 10 events on a major tour. In November, she became the youngest winner of the LPGA Player of the Year award.

2016: Second Major and Olympic Medal

Lydia Ko at the 2016 Kingsmill Championship

Lydia won four times in 2016. She won the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women's Open for the third time. She also won the Kia Classic and, on 3 April, her second major title, the ANA Inspiration. This made her the youngest player to win two women's major championships.

She added two more LPGA Tour victories at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship and Marathon Classic. In August, she won the silver medal for New Zealand at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.

2017-2020: Continued Success

In 2017, Lydia had ten top-10 finishes in 26 events. Her world ranking dropped slightly but she remained a top player. She won the LPGA Mediheal Championship in 2018. In 2019 and 2020, she continued to have top finishes in tournaments.

2021: Return to Winning and Olympic Bronze

Lydia won her first LPGA Tour event since 2018 at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii. In August, she won a bronze medal for New Zealand at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. She also won the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour in 2021.

2022: Dominant Season

Lydia had a fantastic year in 2022, winning three times. She won the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio and the BMW Ladies Championship. In November, she won the CME Group Tour Championship and its record $2 million prize. This win helped her secure the season's money title, the Vare Trophy, and the LPGA Player of the Year award for 2022. On 28 November, she returned to the world No. 1 ranking.

2023: International Wins

In February 2023, Lydia won the Aramco Saudi Ladies International for the second time. In December, she won the first-ever Grant Thornton Invitational mixed team tournament with her partner Jason Day.

2024: Olympic Gold and Major Champion

In January 2024, Lydia won her first LPGA Tour title since 2022 at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

On 10 August 2024, she won the gold medal in women's golf at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. This historic win gave her a complete set of Olympic medals (silver, bronze, and gold), making her the only golfer in the modern era to achieve this. The gold medal also qualified her for the LPGA Hall of Fame.

Two weeks later, Lydia claimed the AIG Women's Open at Old Course at St Andrews, which was her third major championship. In September, she won the Kroger Queen City Championship, marking the first time since 2016 that she won back-to-back LPGA Tour events.

2025: Continued Success

In March 2025, Lydia won the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore.

Personal Life

On 30 December 2022, Lydia Ko married Chung Jun in Seoul. He is the son of Chung Tae-young, the Vice Chairman of Hyundai Card.

Major Championship Wins (3)

Lydia Ko has won three major championships in her career:

The Evian Championship (2015)
ANA Inspiration (2016)
AIG Women's Open (2024)

Olympic Medals

Lydia Ko has won three Olympic medals, making her the only golfer in the modern era to achieve this.

World Ranking Highlights

Lydia Ko has spent a significant amount of time as the world's No. 1 female golfer.

She first reached No. 1 on 2 February 2015.
She held the top spot for 85 weeks in a row, which is the fourth-longest streak ever.
On 28 November 2022, she returned to the No. 1 ranking after more than five years, showing her incredible comeback.
Overall, she has been ranked No. 1 for 125 total weeks, placing her third all-time.

Awards and Honors

Lydia Ko has received many awards throughout her career:

Mark H. McCormack Medal (2011, 2012, 2013)
Halberg Supreme Award (2013, 2024)
New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year (2013, 2014, 2015, 2024)
LPGA Rookie of the Year (2014)
LPGA Player of the Year (2015, 2022)
LPGA Tour Money Winner (2015, 2022)
LPGA Vare Trophy (2021, 2022)
Rolex Annika Major Award (2016)
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2019)
William and Mousie Powell Award (2021)
Best Female Golfer ESPY Award (2015, 2016)
Race to the CME Globe (2014, 2015, 2022)
GWAA Female Player of the Year (2015, 2022)
LPGA Hall of Fame (2024)
Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2025)

Images for kids

Lydia Ko in 2019