‘Cinderella’ Lydia Ko Reveals ‘Crazy’ Turn of Life Despite Her Massive English Disadvantage
If you thought Lydia Ko’s Olympic triumph and Hall of Fame entry were incredible, she has something more for you. The Kiwi International received the country’s highest national honor. Yes, you can add a ‘Dame’ before her name. Although being the humble lady that she is, Ko would much prefer if you don’t. That humbleness isn’t a decoy for social anxiety. It’s ingrained in her.
Lydia Ko was born in South Korea. Then she migrated to the island nation with her parents. Data shows that in 2018, there were 35,000 Koreans in the country, and most were from South Korea. Ko’s was one of those countless families and hers was one of those faceless faces. And like most South Korean immigrants, her knowledge of English was limited.
Limited only to a few words.
Looking back Lydia Ko can now laugh. At the press conference, the former world no.1 recounted, “My life has changed drastically – when I came from Korea to New Zealand as a young girl, I knew just four letters of (the) alphabet and I had those in the wrong order – ABDC.”
From winning the first event of the season to a major victory, Lydia Ko went on a heater in 2024 to join the Hall of Fame
– 3 wins
– @AIGWomensOpen Champion
– Olympic Gold Medalist
– 8 Top 10 finishes
– No. 3 in the Women’s World Golf @ROLEX Rankings pic.twitter.com/b9LIZ7l9Ya— LPGA (@LPGA) December 28, 2024
Life is crazy. And some crazy turn of events brought her here. An economic boom. A financial crisis. Aspiring parents. And a golfer named Se Ri Pak. South Korea’s real GDP growth for the 90s was almost 5% before the Asian Financial Crisis hit in 1997. Ko was born that year. A year later, Se Ri Pak took the golf world and her native country by storm.
Lydia Ko’s mother wanted her daughter to follow in that footsteps. The family moved to Auckland. Ko started taking lessons. The dream of a mother permeated the daughter’s soul as well. “Growing up, I always wanted to be a pro golfer. I have been fortunate – not many people have that opportunity. I have had the highs and lows. Did I think then I would be sitting in this seat, being interviewed about being a Dame? No, probably not. Life is crazy,” Ko was quoted by Scoop. Crazy indeed.
How else would you describe what Lydia Ko has done? Youngest ever male or female golfer to win a professional championship at 14. Youngest ever winner on the LPGA Tour at 15. Youngest ever male or female golfer to become the world no.1. Second youngest golfer to win a major at 18. Yet, she has remained incredibly humble. Actually, she even questioned herself whether she deserved this honor or not!
Why Lydia Ko was doubtful before saying yes
In the history of New Zealand, only one golfer was bestowed with the highest civilian honor in the country. That was Sir Bob Charles. You know the first lefty to find major glory at the 1963 Open Championship. So, when Ko was asked if she was fine with her name being put on the same list, the three-time major winner was thrown into the pit of self-doubt for a moment.
“I thought, ‘Do I deserve this?’ The only other golfer is Sir Bob Charles, I am guessing. To be alongside people like Sir Bob is a real honor.” It is an honor indeed, and one Ko definitely deserved. It fits nicely into her 2024 yearbook. That is, if she keeps one.
Lydia Ko earned her third podium finish at the Olympics. This time snatched the Gold draped in the New Zealand flag. That opened the doors of the LPGA Hall of Fame as well. Then she netted her third major at St. Andrews. Too good to be true. Even Lydia Ko had to admit. “I have had the most Cinderella-like story these past few weeks, and this is almost too good to be true.”
