Professional golfer
Lydia Ko
Lydia Ko is one of the most accomplished golfers of her generation. Born in South Korea and raised in New Zealand, she became a professional prodigy, a world No. 1, a three-time major champion and the first golfer to complete the modern Olympic medal set. As of 2026, she has 23 LPGA Tour victories a
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AT A GLANCE
Quick facts
- LPGA wins
- 23Official LPGA total listed in 2026
- Major wins
- 32015, 2016 and 2024
- Olympic medals
- 3Silver, bronze and gold
- World No. 1
- Youngest everReached No. 1 at age 17
- LPGA Hall of Fame
- MemberInducted after her 2024 Olympic gold
- Career earnings
- About $22.4 millionOfficial LPGA figure listed in 2026
THE STORY
What to know
CAREER SNAPSHOT
A résumé built unusually early
Ko won her first LPGA Tour title as a 15-year-old amateur and reached world No. 1 at 17. Her career combines remarkable early records with sustained success well into her professional prime.
- 23 LPGA Tour wins
- 3 major championships
- 2024 Olympic gold medal
- LPGA Hall of Fame member
OLYMPIC HISTORY
The complete Olympic medal set
Ko won silver at Rio 2016, bronze at Tokyo 2020 and gold at Paris 2024. The Paris victory completed a rare three-medal collection across three Olympic Games.
- 2016 Rio — Silver
- 2020 Tokyo — Bronze
- 2024 Paris — Gold
MAJOR TITLES
Three majors, three different tests
Ko’s major wins came at the 2015 Amundi Evian Championship, the 2016 Chevron Championship and the 2024 AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews.
- 2015 — Amundi Evian Championship
- 2016 — Chevron Championship
- 2024 — AIG Women’s Open
PLAYING STYLE
Precision over spectacle
Ko’s game is built around control, accuracy and decision-making rather than relying solely on power. Her strengths include elite approach play, a composed short game and an unusually calm competitive temperament.
- Accurate iron play
- Strong distance control
- Creative short game
- Excellent course management
BACKGROUND
From Seoul to New Zealand
Ko was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved with her family to New Zealand as a child. She represents New Zealand and became one of the country’s best-known athletes.
- Born: April 24, 1997
- Nationality: New Zealand
- Turned professional: 2013
- LPGA member since: 2014
EQUIPMENT
A reported tour setup
Reported equipment lists have shown Ko using a mixed setup built around PING woods and irons, Titleist Vokey wedges, a Scotty Cameron putter and a Titleist Pro V1x ball. Tour equipment can change, so this should not be treated as a confirmed current bag.
- PING woods and irons
- Titleist Vokey wedges
- Scotty Cameron putter
- Titleist Pro V1x ball
CAREER & GOLF JOURNEY
Notable moments
First LPGA Tour win
Won the Canadian Women’s Open as a 15-year-old amateur.
Turned professional
Began her professional career after establishing herself as a teenage star.
First major championship
Won the Amundi Evian Championship at age 18.
Second major and Olympic silver
Won the Chevron Championship and took silver at the Rio Olympics.
Olympic bronze
Added a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Historic Olympic gold
Won gold in Paris and completed the Olympic medal set, alongside her third major at the AIG Women’s Open.
RECENT FORM
Recent results and activity
| Event | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 HSBC Women’s World Championship | T27 | 2026 |
| 2026 Ford Championship | Career-low opening round of 60 | 2026 |
WHAT'S IN THE BAG
Equipment
- Driver
- PING G430 LSTReported setup; may have changedReported WITB · 2024-08-25
- Irons
- PING i230 / Blueprint SReported split setReported WITB · 2024-08-25
- Wedges
- Titleist Vokey SM9Reported lofts included 46°, 49°, 54° and 59°Reported WITB · 2024-08-25
- Putter
- Scotty Cameron TG6Reported tour-style modelReported WITB · 2024-08-25
- Ball
- Titleist Pro V1xReported ball modelReported WITB · 2024-08-25
HH take
Why this profile is worth exploring
Ko’s greatness is easy to appreciate: she pairs elite precision with unusual emotional control. The Olympic medal sweep and her longevity make her one of the defining players of the modern era.