The Summer of Lydia Ko: A Season to Remember
Lydia with Bryant and Justine
Lydia Ko: A Top Golfer from New Zealand
The world knows Lydia Ko as a top golfer from New Zealand who has been in the spotlight since she was a teenager. Since her rookie year, 2014, Lydia has won 22 LPGA events and garnered 110 career top-10 finishes.
A Remarkable 2024 Golf Season
Victory at the AIG Women's Open
Lydia Ko's 2024 golf season has been a significant success, highlighted by her dramatic victory at the August AIG Women's Open at St. Andrews. This win marked her third career major and her first major title since 2016. Ko had a strong final round, overcoming tough competition from Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, and Jiyai Shin to claim the title.
Completing Her Olympic Medal Collection
She also notably won the coveted gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, thus completing her collection of all Olympic medals.
Early 2024 Season Success
Earlier in the year, Ko also started strong by winning the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, securing one of three top-four finishes in her first four events of the season. These performances have brought her back to the top of the golfing world and solidified her position in the LPGA Hall of Fame, making her the youngest player to do so.
With her consistent golf swing and major victories, Ko is now ranked third in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings and is a serious contender in the Race to CME Globe standings.
Enhanced Physical Strength: The Secret Behind Her Success
Lydia and Bryant
Lydia's success in 2024 can be attributed to her enhanced physical strength, which significantly contributed to her ability to perform at the highest level. Her increased power off the tee and precise iron play reflect the results of an intense fitness regimen that builds endurance and explosive strength. This physical conditioning has enabled her to handle the demanding nature of professional golf with greater ease and resilience, giving her a competitive edge throughout the season.
Training at Perform For Golf
When she’s not home in Florida or traveling to win tournaments, Lydia pops by Perform For Golf to improve her golf fitness. Lydia is a gym beast, squatting over 185 pounds and box jumping nearly 3 feet, which is well above the LPGA average.
Coach Bryant Sharifi has been working with Lydia’s philosophy and drive for golf since 2020, and in fruition, came to Perform For Golf: the Bay Area’s revolutionary golf performance gym. Originally a gym-within-a-gym, Perform For Golf has since expanded from San Francisco to San Mateo and Oakland. P4G’s high-tech equipment and highly motivated coaches make for a successful environment where professional and recreational golfers can train.
Lydia Ko’s Philosophy: More Than Just Golf
Reflecting on her journey, Lydia Ko shares a simple but powerful philosophy:
“I think when I was younger, I used to always think about the negative things of why can't I go to school camp with the other kids; why do I have to go like practise after school. But you know, all those moments, they have kind of led me to the journey and the place I am right now, and you know, I think like I've had my fair share of like emotional up-and-downs, but that's just part of it, and I don't think that's because I'm just playing golf. I think that's with anything, you know, in life. You're going to sometimes have the better days and sometimes not have a great day. But that's just life, and I think golf puts everything kind of into perspective, and I think it gives you life lessons outside of just becoming a better golfer."
In short, not every day will be great, and that's okay. Some days will shine, while others won't, but that's just life. Golf reinforces this mindset, teaching lessons that go far beyond the course and apply to everyday life as well.
The journey to becoming a top global golfer has its ups and downs. Lydia's consistency in her performance training has prepared her for everything golf throws at her.
Lydia Ko’s Wins Since 2020 (with Perform For Golf)
2024
Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G
AIG Women’s Open
Paris Olympics - Gold
Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions
2023
Grant Thornton Invitational
Aramco Saudi Ladies International
2022
CME Group Tour Championship
BMW Ladies Championship
Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio
2021
Tokyo Olympics - Bronze
Lotte Championship
Aramco Saudi Ladies International
Looking Forward: Lydia Ko's Journey Continues
Lydia Ko is now ranked third in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and remains a strong contender in the Race to CME Globe standings. With her continued focus on fitness and performance, Lydia Ko is well-positioned to add more victories to her already impressive career.