Lydia Ko needed a tissue before leaving Golf Channel’s booth on Saturday at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. They were grateful tears after she watched the likes of Pat Bradley and Meg Mallon welcome her into the LPGA Hall of Fame.
The tribute ended with heartfelt words from older sister Sura.
“You know, I’m so grateful to be able to know these amazing people, and to think of me so highly, I’m very thankful,” Ko told Golf Channel’s Morgan Pressel and Grant Boone.
“Golf, the results, the 22 wins, medals, they’re great; these kind of relationships are things that are going to be with me forever. Not that I’ll lose my memory one day, but if I do, these are the moments that I’ll remember.”
Ko, 27, shot a 5-under 65 in round three of The Annika to climb into the top 20. She earned the 27th point needed to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame at the Paris Summer Olympics. Soon after, she won the AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews for her 22nd career LPGA title.
Ko became the 35th player to enter the LPGA’s Hall and only the 25th player to earn 27 HOF points. Nine women were inducted as honorary members (eight LPGA founders and beloved entertainer Dinah Shore).
Lydia Ko celebrates her gold medal at the medal ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Le Golf National. (Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports)
And it wouldn’t be a Ko show without a “youngest to” accolade. At 27 years, three months and 17 days, she’s the youngest to get into the Hall under its current criteria.
“Golf has given me so much not only by results,” she said, “but some of the relationships that I’ve made. Golf is actually a strong bond even between my husband and I. It’s crazy.
“I don’t know when my end is going to be, but I know that I’m closer to then than when I was 15 or when I first came on tour.
“I’m excited, but excited to give it my best and my everything until the very end. It’s definitely a love/hate relationship. Looking back, I think there is more to love for sure.”