By Cord Rankin
20-time LPGA Tour winner becomes 35th member, joining an illustrious list of honorees
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 11, 2024 – Lydia Ko has officially qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame! After her incredible performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning the gold medal, she’s hit the 27 points needed to join this exclusive group, becoming the 35th member of the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Quotes From Lydia Ko via the International Golf Federation (IGF):
(On getting into the LPGA Hall of Fame with a gold medal at the Olympics)
“I repeat those words. It’s a hell of a way to do it. You say those kind of things, and until it really happens, it’s not really factual. You know, it’s something that you keep going towards, too.”
(On the difficulty of achieving the LPGA Hall of Fame)
“Yeah, you asked me that question yesterday, so I’m glad that that’s gone. When I lost in the playoff in Bradenton, I was gutted because I know how hard it is to be in contention. I know how hard it is to win. Obviously Nelly played amazing, and the finish she had to get in the playoff, she did everything she could and I was just more disappointed in how I had finished in the playoff more so than just purely losing.”
(On her family’s support and realization about her accomplishments)
“There were two key people that said, you know what, if it doesn’t happen, it’s okay. You’ve had an unbelievable career, and just because you’re in the Hall of Fame, that doesn’t make you any different, and that was my mother and my husband, and they said, hey, like whether you’re in the Hall or not, like we’re still so proud of you, and the things you have accomplished have been so much more than like I could have ever asked for.”
(On the significance of being Inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame at the Olympics)
“For it to have happened here at the Olympics, unreal. I do feel like I’m a mythical character in a story tale. It really couldn’t have gotten any better than I could have imagined, and I’ve had so many grateful things that happened in my career so far, and this really tops it. I couldn’t have asked for anything more to be honest.”
(On retirement and enjoying the moment)
“So I don’t think there is a specific date and now that I’ve got in the Hall of Fame, I don’t know if that affects anything. But for now, I just want to enjoy this moment. But you know, golf has given me so much, and I know that my ending is sooner than when it first started. So I wanted to really enjoy it, and while I am competitively playing, I want to play the best golf I can.”
(On her Olympic journey and Hall of Fame career)
“I mean, I’ve had an unbelievable experience in my three Olympic — competing in my last three Olympics. I hope that they are inspired, and kids in China and Germany and all of these other countries players that are here representing this week and last week are going to be inspired to be here or playing Brisbane or L.A. in the future. I think that’s a big key. All of us are here as athletes and trying to do our best, but at the same time, we want to inspire the future generations, and I think this week has been exactly that.”
COURTESY LPGA TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
