Who Are Lydia Ko’s Sponsors? From Apparel to Equipment, Her Endorsement Deals Revealed
27 years old and an Olympian. The former No. 1 golfer in the world has, throughout her career, managed to leave a mark in the sport owing to her scintillating talent. But Lydia Ko wasn’t able to do it alone. The athlete, through her skills and display of golf, has raked in many supporters in the form of sponsors and endorsements in her 11-year-long career.
The New Zealand golfer’s net worth is currently set at $25 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth. Out of the same, she boasts a figure of $17,742,397 as her LPGA Tour earnings. The rest, however, she was able to garner with the help of her sponsors, including the likes of Excel, 2K Sports, Hana Financial Bank, ECCO, apparel company Renoma, and Lexus, not to mention an iron-only deal club deal with Golf Partner/PROTOCONCEPT Golf.
The 2-time major champ signed with Excel Sports Management earlier this year, in January. As a result, Kevin Hopkins, who oversees the division for the LPGA Tour Pros, was assigned to manage the female athlete as well. Interestingly, Ko joined hands with the top-tier agency after her partnership with WME-IMG came to an end.
The Kiwi had also started a partnership with 2K Sports, following which she became one of the players, alongside Lexi Thompson, to be represented in the video game, PGA Tour 2K23. “It’s exciting to be part of the PGA Tour 2K franchise and helps show the growing audience for LPGA,” said the athlete, “Being a playable pro in PGA Tour 2K23 has been a special moment for me professionally and personally, and a credit to hard work.”
Back in 2020, Lydia Ko signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Hana Capital, one of Hana Financial Group’s affiliates. But in 2022, she expanded their existing partnership to sign with Hana Bank, a major affiliate of the group. Consequently, she was spotted wearing the logo of the Korean Financial Group on her gear from the 2022 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Similarly, the golfer had also extended her partnership with ECCO back in 2021.
Lydia Ko and her ever-expanding endorsement deals
The footwear company ECCO Golf had joined hands with the New Zealand professional back in January 2017 and had signed her on as a brand ambassador. And the golfer was again re-signed by the brand in 2021, following which she has sported its footwear on the greens till now. “I’m delighted to be continuing my relationship with ECCO GOLF,” divulged Lydia Ko back then, “It’s been a rollercoaster few years, but the brand has quite literally been with me every step of the way.”
Apart from ECCO Golf, the LPGA Tour Pro also extended her endorsement deal with Golf Partner/PROTOCONCEPT Golf by three years in 2023. She had, since 2022, been using PROTOCONCEPT irons in her bags, owing to which she was able to win three times that season. As a result, the Kiwi agreed to have Golf Partner’s logo on her bag, umbrella, and headcovers, not to mention how both companies will enjoy the right to use her name, image, and likeness.
