Tour News
Wisdom beyond her years: Lydia Ko talks golf, family, friends and faith
Phenom. Prodigy. Whiz kid. Wunderkind.
Lydia Ko has heard all the praise and no matter how many times people tell her how great she is – or how great she will be – she remains firmly grounded by relying on her family, her faith, and herself.
“I just try to be myself and not get too ahead of myself,” Ko said. “I stick to the same routine that I’ve been accustomed to which has helped me get to where I am now. I mainly try to focus on the task at hand.”
It is that focus that has enabled the 17-year-old New Zealander, ranked No. 2 in the Rolex Official World Golf Rankings and named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People this year, to get off to such a solid start this season. Ko, with more than $800,000 in earnings, won the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in San Francisco in April and finished a close second to Stacy Lewis at this week’s Walmart NW Championship in Arkansas.
Ko’s main goal this year, in her first full season, is to acclimate herself to the rigorous pace and demands that come with life on the LPGA Tour.
“The LPGA Tour is a year around season with a lot of traveling both domestically and internationally,” Ko said. “The key goal was identifying how many tournaments I would be comfortable playing in a year taking into consideration other responsibilities that come with being a professional golfer such as sponsor and media commitments.”
If not for an opening-round 76, Ko would have been right in the mix for a U.S. Women’s Open title at Pinehurst a couple weeks ago. As it was, she finished a respectable T15 thanks in part to having a very well known face on the bag for the week in Mike “Fluff” Cowan, PGA Tour veteran Jim Furyk’s caddy.
“Since I don’t have a regular caddy, I felt that having a caddy who had already worked the week before on the Men’s U.S. Open and knew his way around the course would be a good idea,” Ko said. “My agent at IMG knew Fluff and luckily Jim Furyk was taking that week off, and Fluff was kind enough to take on the job.”
Ko counts herself among the many players and fans alike thoroughly impressed with the play and demeanor of 11-year-old qualifier Lucy Li at the Open.
“To be able to play her way into the tournament and playing shoulder to shoulder against the best players in the world, especially at her age, is just incredible,” Ko said. “But she was so casual and just being herself. You can tell she was actually enjoying the whole experience. How she handled all the media attention was impressive, so natural and carefree.”
As someone who knows a thing or two about the challenges of being in the spotlight at a young age, Ko’s path is made a bit easier thanks to the strong support system she has.
For starters, Ko’s mom, Tina Hyon, travels with her everywhere making sure she is well taken care of, eating right and getting enough sleep and rest. Out on Tour, Ko relies on close friends like Danielle Kang, Michelle Wie, Jessica Korda and Lizette Salas for mentoring and support.
Equally important to Ko’s ability to keep herself centered is a strong Catholic faith: a faith that enables her to handle all the pressure, as well as to put anything and everything into perspective.
“Having faith gives me a sense of belief, tranquility, serenity and comfort,” Ko said. “It constantly brings me back to reality. We are all the same human beings at the end of the day, living in the same world.”
Notwithstanding the hoopla that typically surrounds her at each event, Ko remains laser-focused on her game and maintaining consistency.
“It takes a lot of hard work, lot of time, commitment and sacrifice to sustain the level of high performance throughout the year,” Ko said. “Golf is a very fickle sport and not only do you have to be physically, mentally and emotionally healthy but you have to practice all areas of your game to keep that feel for the game in tune.”
Next up, Ko will continue the hunt for her first major title at the Ricoh Women’s British Open beginning July 10 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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LY
Jul 3, 2014 at 7:58 pm
I worked at the Walmart LPGA tournament last week and I never saw Lydia refuse to give an autograph. She was gracious and always smiled. I wasn’t around her 100% of the time, but what I did see of her she was very polite and professional. The same can be said for Michelle Wie too. She signed a lot of autographs and I never saw her refuse anyone either. I was very impressed with both of them.
Mike
Jul 3, 2014 at 2:29 am
If only there was a relifgion of none religion…
Jose
May 30, 2016 at 10:10 am
There is, it’s called Atheism, and those people, when they die, end up like a battery or light bulb when they die.
Jesus is real. Take some time to look into Him. All those writings of him 2000 years ago were true. There was no National Enquirer or TMZ back then, no NY Times Best Sellers.
They wrote what was true.
Paul
Jul 2, 2014 at 4:59 am
Fingers crossed shel b knockin stacey lewis off her perch sooner rather than later!!
Phat
Jul 2, 2014 at 4:26 am
Don’t mention politics or religion. She’ll learn.
Inthejonzone
Jul 2, 2014 at 12:25 pm
There’s nothing wrong with making statements on either, but especially Faith…try and find it, and you’ll see the amazing things that happen in your life unexpectedly.
lisa
Jul 3, 2014 at 2:16 am
faith- eh, been there, done that, never going back. gained nothing from having it, a lot from losing it.
it’s funny- my life became so much simpler and more enjoyable when i lost my faith. i shed layers of guilt and fear, and began to feel more alive than ever.
even when my mom died recently i had no desire to turn to religion as a comfort. don’t need it. i embrace the life i am living right now, and that is plenty for me.
Jose
May 30, 2016 at 10:11 am
Good for you. Shallow, weak-minded, but good for you.
Too bad you will die one day. And that will be it. Poof. Like a leaf or a battery expired.
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lisa
Jul 1, 2014 at 9:58 pm
hopefully one day she will grow out of that catholic faith…
bob
Jul 1, 2014 at 11:00 pm
why do you say that?
paul
Jul 2, 2014 at 2:11 am
The new atheists preach tolerance for everything and everyone and all religions, except Christianity (because Christianity claims there are no other gods, and there is only one way to the one God) He is just making trouble.
mani
Jul 2, 2014 at 7:44 am
I don’t really see how atheists can be tolerable of everything, everyone and all religions if they aren’t tolerable of a certain faith, isn’t that a bit hypocritical?
paul
Jul 2, 2014 at 9:17 am
Its fine in their view, because the Christian faith is the one they are against the most. They don’t care about Buddhists because Buddhists won’t come out and tell them that God judges you for what you do with your life, but Christians will.
lisa
Jul 2, 2014 at 11:39 am
eeertnt. wrong answer. non-believer’s thoughts about xianity are no different than any other religion in regards to their respective fictional beings in the sky. any atheist worth their pepper will tell you that.
PLUS– they tolerate any and all faiths so long as they don’t cross the church/state separation or do physical harm. atheists feel free to question religion. that may be what you are misconstruing as intolerance, but it’s not. it’s a difference of worldview which should be hashed out among the involved parties instead of swept under the rug in deference to unquestionable ‘faith’.
my thoughts on Ko are in line with the article’s ideas of her maturation.
Goodballs
Jul 2, 2014 at 12:41 pm
I have faith in my balls
Mat
Jul 2, 2014 at 2:28 pm
You’re hilarious. I’m not even religious but you ma’am are a secular fundamentalist. No better than Muslim, Christian or free market fundamentalists. All a bunch of brainwashed, unquestioning drones. All think they’re enlightened. Oh the irony. Bigotry and intolerance under a different guise, that all.
Big fan of Lydia, she’s achieved more than you ever will.
Jadon
Jul 2, 2014 at 2:34 pm
Goodballs, I also have faith in your balls. Ko doesn’t have a regular caddy? Where do I sign up? I’d love to be her regular caddy. Give her my cell phone #. “She’s pretty good, with my help she could be the best” (name that movie)
lisa
Jul 2, 2014 at 9:35 pm
i, too, have faith in your balls.
lisa
Jul 2, 2014 at 9:34 pm
i’m guess fine with you calling me a secular fundamentalist. yes, i think that people who propose a belief have the burden of proof, not me, the secular fundamentalist who tries to gather scientific evidence and try to see reality for what it is. i’m okay with saying that we humans don’t know certain things- origin of life on this planet, beginnings of the universe, etc.
if you are trying to equate my stance with a violent religious fundamentalist then you obviously did not read my reply above.
unquestioning? what do you think being a skeptic non-believer means?
Jose
May 30, 2016 at 10:15 am
Sad for you.