Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko, born on April 24, 1997, is a distinguished New Zealand professional golfer who has made an indelible mark on the sport. As a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame and the reigning Olympic champion, she first ascended to the pinnacle of women's golf on February 2, 2015, at the remarkable age of seventeen years, nine months, and nine days, becoming the youngest player of either gender to achieve this milestone.

From her early years, Ko showcased extraordinary talent, earning numerous accolades as the youngest player on the LPGA Tour. Notably, she became the youngest ever to win an LPGA Tour event at just fifteen years old. In August 2013, she made history as the only amateur to win two LPGA Tour events, setting the stage for her future successes.

Her triumph at The Evian Championship on September 13, 2015, marked her as the youngest woman to win a major championship at eighteen years, four months, and twenty days. Ko further solidified her legacy by breaking the record for the lowest final round in women's golf majors with a closing round of sixty-three, later improving it to sixty-two at the 2021 ANA Inspiration, where she also claimed her second consecutive major title.

Recognized for her influence, Ko was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2014 and featured in the EspnW Impact25 list in both 2014 and 2015. Her accolades continued with the Young New Zealander of the Year award in 2016 and an appointment as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019 for her contributions to golf.

In November 2022, she clinched the CME Group Tour Championship, earning a two million dollar prize and finishing the LPGA Tour season with three wins. By August 2024, she won the gold medal in women's golf at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, becoming the youngest inductee into the LPGA Hall of Fame at age twenty-seven. With a bronze from Tokyo 2020 and a silver from Rio 2016, she became the first golfer in the modern era to achieve a complete set of Olympic medals. Ko also serves as a player director on the LPGA Board and was honored as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2025 New Year Honours for her services to golf.