While no-one could compete with overall dominance of Nelly Korda in 2024, Lydia Ko did a phenomenal job of creating any kind of debate over whether her season may actually be more enviable.
Few would have imagined coming out of 2016 that Lydia Ko would go into 2024 still awaiting her third major title. Much like Jordan Spieth, the New Zealander really burst onto the scene between 2013 and 2016.
She finished second as an amateur at The Evian Championship in 2013, and had top threes at three of 2016’s major championships. However, Ko would only have four top 10s in the majors between 2017 and 2020. In fact, she would only win once on the LPGA Tour in that time.
But there was a real return to form for Ko in 2024, as she won the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews, as well as the Olympic gold medal in Paris. Remarkably, the 27-year-old now owns all three medals despite golf only returning to the Olympic Games in 2016.
What may lead to Lydia Ko’s retirement in 2025
Ko has made no secret of her desire to retire at a younger age. But perhaps that win on the Old Course may have led to a change of heart.
Speaking on Golf Channel, Amy Rogers suggested that Ko looks set to hang around while she has a shot at a piece of history.
“I think because of what she did, not so much in Paris with that gold medal, but with that win at the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews, getting that third major, that third different major, opened the door to what you just mentioned – that career grand slam,” she said.
“And I talked to her about this at the Kroger Queen City Championship which she won there in the fall, and she mentioned that this was a new goal for her. So I think this possibility that she could go out there and still win the U.S. Women’s Open and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and have all five majors has bought us a little bit more time with Lydia Ko.
“Now, if she goes out there and gets it all done this year, yeah, she might call it quits. But I think we’ve bought ourselves a little bit more time otherwise.”
Chance for Lydia Ko to make history in the major championships
Women’s golf has had a number of grand slam winners over the years. However, no player has won all five of the current major titles, with The Evian Championship only becoming recognised by the LPGA as a major in 2013 – unfortunately for Inbee Park, who won the event in 2012. The South Korean has also won each of the other four majors.
Ko has finished in the top three at both the U.S. Women’s Open and the Women’s PGA Championship during her career. However, the PGA Championship has been a thorn in her side in the last four years, with her best result in that time being a tie for 46th.
But few probably expected 2024 to be such a strong year for Ko given that she was winless on the LPGA Tour in 2023. So perhaps there is reason to be optimistic about her chances of adding to her major tally over the next 12 months.
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