Lydia Ko

“It was a pretty good day at the office,” Ko said with a shrug and a smile this week at Siam Country Club Pattaya as she prepared for her 2023 LPGA Tour debut ...

And why she will likely go down in history as one of the greatest who ever played the game. Bespeckled and physically young, Ko was better at golf than most people in the world at that time, but it was in the way that a kid is better at skateboarding than a 30-year-old – she played without fear, having fun with every step. Because she wasn’t the longest player – at 15, she hadn’t developed the speed or muscle mass that comes with adulthood – she hit a lot of hybrid shots that looked like they were going in the hole. Rather than aim at the water and cut it to a tucked flag, she can now line up at the center of every green and shape shots to hole locations. Ko is longer than ever and will likely be in the top 25 in driving distance this season. Ko became the youngest-ever winner of an LPGA Tour event in August of 2012 when she was just 15. McCormack medal as the nation’s top amateur for the second year in a row when she was 15. She played in four LPGA Tour events that season as an amateur and made the cut in all of them. The last time Ko was over par in competition was September 2, a 1-over 72 at the Dana Open presented by Marathon. She finished second in total putting average at 28.61 putts per round for the entire year, third in birdies at 383, fourth in sub-par holes and fifth in rounds under par. She also holds the record for the longest gap between stints atop the Rolex Rankings, having clawed her way back to No.1 after first reaching the top spot back in 2015. In 2022, she finished first on the LPGA Tour in official money, CME Globe points, scoring average, sand saves, putts per green hit in regulation, and Player of the Year points.

Japan's Nasa Hataoka, China's Lin Xiyu and Anna Nordqvist from Sweden were among five players at the top of the leaderboard at Siam Country Club Pattaya.

She said she felt very much at home, having finished in a tie for sixth at the same event in Thailand last year. Also in 17th after a blemish-free 68 was last year's winner Moriya Jutanugarn, the first Thai to claim victory in the tournament. World number one Lydia Ko fired a bogey-free four-under-par 68 to sit three shots off the lead after the first round of the LPGA Thailand on Thursday.

Nine of the top 10 players in the world are in Asia this week for the 16th staging of the Honda LPGA Thailand. American Lexi Thompson, No.

USA's Jennifer Kupcho, Anna Nordquist of Sweden, Nasa Hataoko of Japan, local hope and tour rookie Jaravee Boonchant, and Lin Xiyu of China share the lead ...

1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand, leading 26 of the top 30 at the event, had an error-free round of 68. Still hybrid but pretty perfect club, and it hit just short of the green and rolled up really close to a tap-in.” Lin started on the back nine and birdied six holes coming in for her 65.

Meanwhile, world number one Lydia Ko fired a bogey-free four-under-par 68 to sit three shots off the lead.

The Cavan golfer enjoyed a steady start to day one with six successive pars, but soon hit form. Kupcho carded five birdies and an eagle for her opening 65 and a share of the lead. The 28-year-old shot up the leaderboard after managing to birdie three out of the next four holes.

Jennifer Kupcho fired a bogey-free 7-under 65 to share the lead alongside four other players after the opening round.

1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand, leading 26 of the top 30 at the event, had an error-free round of 68. Still hybrid but pretty perfect club, and it hit just short of the green and rolled up really close to a tap-in.” Lin started on the back nine and birdied six holes coming in for her 65.

Share this article · Lydia Ko · Laura Davies · Yani Tseng · Cristie Kerr · Stacy Lewis · Jin Young Ko · Ariya Jutanugarn.

(Chris Keane/USGA) Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club (Jackrabbit Course) in Houston, Texas on Thursday, Dec. (Photo: Jeff Haynes/USGA) (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Senior Women’s Open at NCR Country Club (South Course) in Kettering, Ohio on Wednesday, Aug. [ LPGA had in place until last year](https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/03/29/lorena-ochoa-13-lpga-founders-criteria-change-lpga-hall-of-fame/), Webb became officially eligible at age 30.

two points for each LPGA major tournament win. one point for each Vare Trophy or Rolex Player of the Year honor earned. An Olympic gold medal is also worth one ...

Lydia Ko was tied for 17th after the opening round in Pattaya as the Kiwi attempts to win four of her last five tournaments on the LPGA Tour.

Ko has won three of her last four starts. Koerstz Madsen has begun her title defence at 1 over. Still hybrid but pretty perfect club, and it hit just short of the green and rolled up really close to a tap-in.”

With her in the lead were 2014 champion Anna Nordquist of Sweden, six-time USLPGA Tour winner Nasa Hataoko of Japan, local hope and tour rookie Jaravee ...

Koerstz Madsen has begun her title defense at 1 over. Lin started on the back nine and birdied six holes coming in for her 65. Still hybrid but pretty perfect club, and it hit just short of the green and rolled up really close to a tap-in.”

Lydia Ko got married at the end of 2022 and life has only gotten better since. Her golf has somehow risen even higher.

[PodBean](https://dropzonegolf.podbean.com/) [Stitcher](https://www.stitcher.com/show/golfcom-podcast) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/5tCHGYbvzziD2cyntgfseS?si=7d9c60166f054228) [iHeart](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-drop-zone-golf-podcast-86279832/) “I putted really well last week, and I think that was kind of the key for me to be able to win,” Ko said from this week’s LPGA stop in Thailand. The 23rd-best course in the world, according to