Lydia Ko still looking to retire very soon

Fresh off an Olympic gold medal victory in Paris, Ko claimed the title of British Golf Open champion earlier this week. Her Olympic win secured her a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame, and with these combined achievements, she has now risen to number three in the latest world golf rankings.

Speaking to RNZ’s *First Up* programme, Ko, 27, described the past few weeks as feeling like a dream, but said they haven’t altered her plans regarding retirement.

“I know for a fact I’m probably never playing past 30. What has happened in the last few weeks doesn’t change my timeline,” she said. The exact timing, she added, remains an ongoing discussion with her family.

“I still need to think more about it because it’s a big decision… I want to leave the game while I’m still performing well. I want to step away feeling like I could have achieved more and still with a deep love for the game.”

It had been eight years since Ko last won a major, and she reflected on how much her life had changed during that time.

“I got married to an amazing person who I can now call my husband. And I’ve become a dog mom. So many crazy things have happened both on and off the golf course.”

Ko admitted that 2023 was the worst golf season of her career, and coming back from that low point was challenging.

“I’m definitely the type who tends to keep my feelings to myself, not always super vocal about what I’m going through. But my family has always been there for me, especially my sister.”

Meeting her husband also helped her realize that golf, while important, is just one part of her life.

“Knowing that golf doesn’t define me—it’s just a part of who I am, but not the whole of me—has been a valuable realization.”

For now, Ko is focused on finishing out the current season, with several months of golf still ahead. She hopes to make a trip back home to New Zealand for a visit after the season concludes.