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 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Players Championship
On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.
We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.
Check out our photos below!
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist 2 wood – 2024 The Players Championship
- Cam Young testing Titleist’s new 2-wood – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Hole Nos. 17 and 18 – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Toulon Small Batch Texas putter – 2024 The Players Championship
- Swag Golf custom headcovers – 2024 The Players Championship
- New Ping PLD staff bags – 2024 The Players Championship
- SuperStroke St. Patrick’s Day putter grip – 2024 The Players Championship
- Taylor Montgomery using PuttView X training goggles – 2024 The Players Championship
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.
We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.
General Albums
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #3
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1 (thanks, bvmagic!)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #3 (bvmagic)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2 (bvmagic)
WITB Albums
- Matt (LFG) Every – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Luke List – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Taylor Moore – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- David Ford – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Pullout Albums
- New Cameron putters (and new “LD” grip) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Bettinardi MB & CB irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Bettinardi API putter cover – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Swag API covers – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New PXG putters – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler putter change – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sepp Straka – shaft change to new Ventus blue – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Rickie Fowler’s new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and Denali shaft (and Radspeed 3-wood) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Justin Rose testing Srixon Z Forged II irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
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.