Lydia Ko’s retirement countdown is underway

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko will go down as one of the finest talents the sport has ever seen, and she continues to add more jewels to her already illustrious crown.

She won a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics before recording another victory at the Women’s British Open this summer.

Since becoming the youngest individual male or female to be ranked number one in golf at age 17, she has gone from strength to strength.

However, the 27-year-old has continuously reiterated that she will retire from golf before she turns 30. Read on as we take a look at her future plans and the legacy she will leave behind.

Olympic Gold was a crowning triumph

Ko’s performances over the years have been stunning, but she crowned her career with one of the titles that eluded her for years.

She made her Olympic debut at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, where she finished with a silver medal. Her attempt in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics ended with a bronze.

Ko desperately wanted to break her duck in Paris. She pipped Morgane Metraux to the title to bring home the gold and is now the most decorated golfer in Olympic history.

Her gold medal win qualifies her for the LPGA Hall of Fame. She is a 20-time LPGA winner, three-time major champion, two-time Rolex LPGA player of the year and now a three-time Olympic medallist.

Fresh off her success at Le Golf National, Ko won her first major title in eight years, clinching the Women’s British Open at St Andrews.

Reigning champion Lilia Vu missed a massive opportunity near the end of the tournament, putting Ko in pole position to secure the title. The New Zealander grabbed the chance with both hands, hitting a birdie on the 18th to finish seven under par.

Ko was not the bookmakers’ favourite to win the title, with her last majors coming in 2016. However, online betting NZ enthusiasts were particularly excited about her prospects, with many of them placing their wagers on Ko to upset the odds.

World number one Nelly Korda was well-backed by punters to claim the $9 million purse, but she made crucial mistakes that left her trailing.

Ko committed to an early retirement from golf

Despite her recent victories and the accolades that have accompanied them, Ko insists she will retire from professional golf early.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand, she reiterated that the wins won’t affect her decision to hang up her clubs and quit the sport she loves.

“I know for a fact I’m probably never playing past 30,” Ko said. “What has happened in the last few weeks doesn’t change my timeline. I want to leave the game while I’m still playing well.”

The decision is influenced by her personal life. Ko recently married and has embraced new roles, including that of a dog mum.

She believes golf is just one aspect of her identity. “To know that golf doesn’t complete me,” she added. “Golf – it’s just part of me, but that’s not me as a whole.”

Kiwi star will leave behind a legacy of excellence

Ko already has a stellar career behind her and has the opportunity to add more accolades to her glistening collection over the remaining three years.

Her rise from prodigious talent to world-class golfer has been incredible to watch. Beyond the individual successes, she has inspired a new generation of female golfers to take up the sport.

The New Zealand Golf Association knows they have an icon of the sport on their hands. They have been working to capitalise on her achievements to promote the sport.

The association plans to revive the New Zealand Women’s Open and use exciting initiatives like the ‘She Loves Golf’ program to get more women to participate in the sport.

CEO of Golf New Zealand, Jeff Latch, acknowledged Ko’s impact and how her success is helping to grow the game.

“We see first-hand how Lydia’s success globally and her achievements on the world stage encourage young girls to pick up a club and have a crack at golf,” Latch said.

“It’s a remarkable impact that this sort of success can have on our sport like ours.

“So, from where we’re standing, we just want to see if we can maximise the value on Lydia’s amazing achievements by bringing more women and girls into the game of golf.”

They have set out to double female participation in golf over the next five years and Ko’s legacy may well help them achieve their aims.