‘It’s Never Easy’: With Her ‘Motherhood’ Desires Now Clear, Lydia Ko Opens Up on Grueling LPGA Life

The jump from going winless in 2023 to winning two events, including a major, being an Olympic gold medalist, and a Hall of Famer shows that Lydia Ko has come a long way. The 27-year-old has achieved many accomplishments in her nearly two-decade-long career and recently hinted that she would soon want to start her own family. It has been two years since Ko’s marriage to her husband, Chung Jun, and Lexi Thompson looks forward to retiring and getting married, Ko’s plans are similar.

Does this mean that Ko will soon end her 2024 season with a heavy portfolio, as golf seems easier for her this year? Surprisingly, no. The 21-time LPGA Tour has been playing in the Kroger Queen City Championship this week, and during the press conference, she was asked how easy golf was for her now. Ko solemnly responded, “It’s never easy.” Why, you ask? This is the first time the Kiwi pro will be teeing off after winning the AIG Women’s Open, and she had just three weeks of rest from golf.

The three-time major winner explained that the break felt short when she realized she would be back on the road in six days. Ko added that at first, she was excited to spend time with her family, but as time passed quickly, she found herself packing and getting ready for the event. Even her husband couldn’t believe it and told her she should be done by now. But her season isn’t over, as Ko said, “I think I have six, seven more events to go… And I think even as in my career, I feel like my far from done. I still have things in my game that I really want to work on.”

With many wins coming her way, why does Ko not want to rest for the remaining season and take it easy? The three-time major winner revealed one issue a break would create for her 2025 season.

Lydia Ko reveals what break might do to her
Although the Kiwi national has been on a steep rise in the 2024 season, there is still a bit of doubt about falling back and losing her form. After all, last year, Lydia Ko was unable to capitalize on any of her skills and just couldn’t win. Talking about it at the press conference at TPC River’s Bend, Ko said, “I think when things have gone really well and you have a break, it’s easy to kind of fall back into my tendencies, and I don’t want to do that.”

This fear is one thing that has kept Ko on schedule, and another is her drive to keep improving and staying ahead of herself. The 27-year-old further added that she would be working with her coach, Holton Freeman, while playing in the Kroger Queen City Championship and also revealed that Si Woo Lee would be her coach when she plays in Korea the following week. She added, “It’s great that I get love from both Holton and Si Woo this week and next week.”

As it turns out, even after announcing her eagerness to start a family, Ko won’t be putting golf on the back burner—at least not for now. With her season already going in her favor, the 21-time LPGA Tour winner will look forward to winning another title before the year’s end.