Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko crowned the most magical month of her storied career by overcoming a host of fellow superstars to secure glory in the 2024 AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews.

Just two weeks after winning gold at the Paris Olympics, the New Zealander finished strongly with an impressive two-under 69 to edge clear of a host of fellow superstars on a gripping Sunday.

It secured her maiden Championship victory and her third major success overall, coming eight years after her last.

Twice a winner of the LPGA Tour’s Canadian Open as an amateur – the first of those in 2012 made the then 15-year-old the circuit’s youngest-ever champion – she was only 16 when she nearly tasted even bigger success.

In the Evian Championship’s inaugural staging as a major, Lydia, still an amateur, led with 17 holes to play before eventually finishing second, two strokes behind Suzann Petersen.

Back at the same event two years later the New Zealander, by then a professional and having already attained world number one status in record time, did become the youngest-ever holder of a women’s major, winning by six after a closing 63 that was the lowest closing round in the history of women’s majors.

She added the ANA Inspiration in April 2016 and almost regained that title in 2021, a last round 62 taking her from eight shots behind to second place, two behind Patty Tavatanakit.

Lydia is a two-time winner of the Smyth Salver for the lowest amateur at the AIG Women's Open, finishing tied for 17th overall on debut in 2012, before sharing the trophy with home favourite Georgia Hall the following year. 

Experienced both fates earlier this year on the LGPA, beating Alexa Pano by two strokes in the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions before losing a play-off the following week to Nelly Korda.

She won Olympic silver in 2016 and bronze in 2021 before taking gold at Paris 2024, securing her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame as a result.

Did you know...?

Lydia has a shiba inu named Kai.