Lydia Ko explains how getting a dog changed her perspective on golf

It has been a banner year for Lydia Ko: She has scored three victories, including a majorplus one Olympic gold medal and a bed in LPGA Hall of Fame. It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, Ko was in the midst of a slump and finished a 2023 season that included just two top 10s – a year so out of character that she missed out on defending her title in 2022 season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Those battles now seem like a distant memory. Ko was awarded the LPGA Heather Farr Endurance Award this year, which is voted on by the LPGA membership and honors an LPGA Tour player who, “through her hard work, dedication and love of the game of golf, has demonstrated determination, perseverance and spirit. in fulfilling her goals as a player.”

“We all go through a lot of things, whether it’s golf-related or things off the golf course,” Ko said at her pre-tournament press conference in. Tiburon in Naples, Fla. “To be recognized for the journey I’ve had is a great honor.”

Ko admitted that she has struggled with the mental side of the game at times.

“I started working with my current mental coach a few years ago, and she’s been an incredible help,” she said. “Sometimes we talk about private things that have nothing to do with golf. As much as we try to distinguish between golf and things off the golf course, they all blend together. We are a human being with a brain. Everything melts away.

“Unfortunately the way I perform on the golf course affects me off the course and vice versa,” Ko continued. “My mental coach, being able to have someone I completely trust and talk to about things has been great. I think it cleared up and helped me clear those demons in my head.”

Another grounding force in Ko’s life this year has been the addition of a new furry family member. Ko and her husband adopted Kai, a Shiba Inu puppy, in May. Ko described feeling extremely attached to her immediately and cried in the car after deciding not to adopt her that day. Kai joined the Ko family soon after.

“He’s been great,” Ko said. “You know, sometimes controversial. But this is the first time I have had as my dog, and I have a lot of learning experiences through it, patience. And I was like, wow, if it’s so hard with a dog, I wondered what it would be like to actually have a human baby. He’s a lot of fun and keeps us really active.

“I think faster over time, which I’m trying to get better at myself,” she continued. “It was just great to have another goofy ball of energy and sometimes I can’t keep up with his running pace as he runs away from me. It’s been a big step for us and I feel like our family just got bigger.”

Kai’s presence also helped Ko focus after the tournament rounds.

“I remember going back to my host family’s house (at the Canadian Women’s Open) and he was there and he was like, oh, how was your day? My day was great. The kind of energy he had towards me, he was so loving and excited to see me. I don’t get more emotions from him when he sees me.

“But I saw it and I was like, you know what? There is so much more to life than what I just wrote and there is always tomorrow. That week was the first time in a long time that I traveled by myself, so it was great to have company.”

And just in case you were wondering if Ko would choose to get another degree if it meant never seeing Kai again, spoiler alert: she’s choosing the dog.

“My husband once asked me for an ultimatum,” Ko said. “He said would you rather get another degree in the future and then not be able to see Kai or not know Kai, or would you rather just have Kai and know you wouldn’t ever win a major again? You know what? I can still call myself a great champion. I’d rather not win a major and have Kai in my life.

“At the Women’s Open I realized that I have both, the best of both worlds. It’s been wonderful. A new life in my life and many more wonderful things on the golf course. So it has literally been a fairytale year. I’m very grateful for everyone this season.”

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