NAPLES, Fla. — Lydia Ko promised herself she wouldn’t cry. Made a note of it, actually, on her speech.
But when Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez surprsing her by coming on stage to welcome her to the LPGA Hall of Fame Wednesday night at the Rolex Awards, Ko put the bouquet flowers in front of her face to hide the tears.
“To think that I’m in that prestigious club with them, it’s honestly hard to wrap my head around that,” said Ko after her opening round at the CME Group Tour Championship. “But just how welcoming they’ve been. Every time I win or play well, Nancy texts me like messages with, like, so many hearts and she’s just become more than just someone that played generations ahead.
“She’s been like an aunt, somebody that’s taken me in and I have really relied on. I’ve been fortunate to actually been able to spend some time with Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst the past few weeks before Pelican.
CME Group Tour Championship: Leaderboard | Photos
“To hear some of their stories it’s funny, but back of my mind I’m like, oh, my God. I’m in the Hall of Fame with her. It’s just crazy.”
My favorite moment from last night! Lydia Ko said she wouldn’t cry, but Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam got her! Special moment welcoming her to the toughest Hall of Fame in all of sports. pic.twitter.com/hkKzDIqdCc
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) November 21, 2024
Before Ko even walked on stage to accept the Heather Farr Perseverance Award, the emotions started to kick in as she watched a highlight reel. The LPGA had sent her a similar video earlier in the year that showed her winning putt at the Olympics before transitioning to the putt that won her first LPGA title at age 15 and everything that followed.
“It’s weird because that’s really the only video I’ve been watching,” said Ko, “but I think it’s because it’s just like given me like flashbacks of all those moments. You know, the things in between as well that I can vividly remember.
“Like I have actually sat in the car and like watched that and shed a tear as well.”
Lydia Ko is recognized by Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam for qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame during the 2024 LPGA Rolex Players Awards at Tiburon Golf Club. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Ko opened the season-ending CME with a 5-under 67 to trail by three. A three-time winner this season on the LPGA, Ko won her third career major at the AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews two weeks after winning Olympic gold.
The winner of this week’s event earns a record $4 million. Ko won $1.5 million the the first time she claimed the CME title in 2014 (for winning the tournament and $1 million bonus). In 2022, she claimed the $2 million winner’s check.