Favouring fairways over catwalks, in-Vogue world No. 3 golfer Lydia Ko chases career Grand Slam
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Lydia Ko is looking to complete a Grand Slam of Majors, having won three out of golf’s five most prestigious tournaments.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES/HSBC WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
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SINGAPORE – The past year has been “amazing” for Lydia Ko, who completed her Olympic trifecta with a gold at the Paris Games before ending an eight-year Major drought by winning the Women’s British Open.
But the wow factor just got bigger when the South Korean-born New Zealander appeared all glammed up after swopping her golfing attire for Italian luxury brand Loro Piana on the cover of March’s issue of Vogue Korea.
The 27-year-old’s foray into the world of fashion was certainly an eye-opener, admitted the world No. 3 at a press conference on Feb 26, ahead of the US$2.4 million (S$3.2 million) HSBC Women’s World Championship from Feb 27 to March 2 at Sentosa Golf Club.
She said: “Some people are like, ‘Oh, is she the same person?’ It was so much fun, and my first experience of being on a fashion magazine outside of golf clothes and my hat...
“I was super proud and excited of the way it turned out and obviously very grateful to Vogue... It’s literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
While she is intrigued by fashion and modelling – she has been watching clips on YouTube – she insisted that this is not in her future plans, recalling how she wore one of the dresses the wrong way around.
Said Ko: “I’m honestly not envious of the models... It’s a lot of work and a lot of people to make that cover shoot the way it is.”
Her focus is still very much on golf, as she affirmed her intention to capture a career Grand Slam, having won three – the Evian Championship, Chevron Championship and British Open – out of five Majors in women’s golf.
Ko’s British Open victory at St Andrews was what ignited this dream, with the 22-time LPGA Tour winner noting that the odds were not in her favour previously, as her performances on links courses were not the best.
In the 13 editions she has participated in, she has finished in the top 10 only twice and missed the cut two times.
Describing her double win in Paris and St Andrews within a span of three weeks as “two miracles”, she said: “I was a little afraid that I wouldn’t be able to match or have that fluidity after having a year like last year.
“But I’ve come to peace that I had a great year last year and who is to say I can’t have an even greater year this year.”
With the Grand Slam to chase, the former world No. 1 is putting her earlier plan to retire by 30 on the back-burner.
She said: “Thirty is a long way to go. I’m 27 now, soon turning 28. I’m just trying to honestly take it day by day... I think that’s a very down-the-road question, but 30 is a long way (away).”
Also hoping to continue her good form is Thailand’s world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, who has finished among the top 10 in her three previous outings at the event.
Thailand’s world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul hopes to continue her good form.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
The 22-year-old, who topped the world rankings in 2022, is coming with a new mindset, after admitting that she put too much pressure on herself to win after an impressive rookie year in 2022.
She said: “It’s more relaxed (now), and if I saw some shots that I missed, or I’m not doing well out there, I just accept it.
“You can’t be good every day and in every shot that you play, it’s just golf... so I just accept the good and the bad better than before.”
Singapore will also be represented by two golfers for the first time in the event’s history, with Shannon Tan and Chen Xingtong teeing up at Sentosa.
Xingtong, 16, will be counting on her experience from 2024, when she finished 62nd as the sole Singaporean in the field.
She said: “This year I’ll definitely be able to handle the pressure better with the experience I have.”
Tan will be making her debut at the LPGA tournament, after she received a sponsor’s invite from HSBC.
The 20-year-old had an impressive rookie year on the Ladies European Tour in 2024, claiming one win and finishing sixth on the Order of Merit.
Tan is looking forward to competing in front of the home crowd. She added: “I’m just treating it like going to any other event – I’ll take it one shot at a time, one hole at a time and just do my best.”
Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing.
Tee time, first round (selected)
1st Hole
7.45am Shannon Tan (Sgp)
8.18am Chen Xingtong (Sgp)
8.54am Yin Ruoning (Chn), Yuka Saso (Jpn), Ayaka Furue (Jpn)
9.06am Lilia Vu (USA), Angel Yin (USA)
9.18am Minjee Lee (Aus), Charley Hull (USA), Ko Jin-young (Kor)
9.30am Lydia Ko (Nzl), Hannah Green (Aus), Atthaya Thitikul (Tha)
10th Hole
8.11am Amy Yang (Kor)
