A happy Lydia Ko returns to world number one
Lydia Ko – a year of rewards for effort – photo LPGA Getty Images
Lydia Ko’s return to the number one position in the female game following her win in the season ending LPGA Tour event, The CME Group Tour Championship, comes 5 years after her last time at the top of the Rolex Rankings.
Ko’s revival began after she had reached an all time low of 55th in August of 2020, a return to her former glory days beginning soon after when beginning a working relationship with new coach Sean Foley who had been known until that point as a one time coach of Tiger Woods.
It was Foley who changed her thinking from obsession on perfect technique in her swing to a more natural way of swinging the golf club and playing the game.
“He’s, I think, gotten me not to think too much about the lines of everything. I’ve tried to change my mindset of not trying to take a video of my swing every single time I’m on the driving range.” Ko told Golf Week at the time. “It doesn’t need to look like a perfect swing for me to just play golf.”
Just a few weeks ago when announcing a cordial split with Foley, Ko highlighted just what Foley had meant to her in the return to her best. “When I first met Sean, I was in a place where I didn’t have a lot of confidence in myself and in my game. Over the past two years he has helped me evolve as a better player and person. Our time together was full of so much learning, laughter.”
Ko’s season in 2022 is the culmination of the sound base Foley established in both Ko’s technique and thinking as she slowly but surely crept her way back into the top twenty at the start of 2001 and from 9th at the beginning of this year to now the world number one once again.
“You know, a lot of things have happened since I was 17 in 2014. I don’t feel 25 right now. There’s been a lot of ups and downs both on and off the golf course, but all of those moments have made moments like today. I think, yes, maybe when I was younger, I played maybe a little bit more freely because I was a little clueless at the same time (laughing).
“But now, you know, I’ve gone through my share of ups and downs, and I think that’s helped me to realize that, hey, we’re going to have good days and we’re also going to have bad days. I think my prospective on how I treat the bad shots or the bad events is a lot better now than I did then.
“I hope that I’ve grown more as an individual since then, and I think golf is very relatable to life in general, and I think golf keeps you very humble as well. It’s a continuous learning journey, but I’m excited with where I am at in life and at the golf course.
“She is now working with former player Ted Oh who she had worked with previously before joining forces with Foley.
“I had a period of time where I was working with Sean and Ted kind of together this year as well, so I don’t think they’re on completely opposite sides of the spectrum. You know, having worked with Ted before a few years ago obviously makes it a little bit, like, easier transition where I’m not having — I don’t need to get used to the person and the style of coaching.
I think both Sean and Ted wanted me to, like, swing as most naturally to how I should be swinging, not to try and make a picture-perfect swing. I think those are probably some of the common things and differences.
Another key aspect of Ko’s improvement has been her engagement and pending marriage to Hyundai executive and son of Hyundai Vice President Ted Chung, Jun Chung.
“When I won in Korea, he wasn’t there,” said Ko at the CME Tour Championship. “And then he sent me a text while I was going up the 18th hole because I had enough of a lead that he thought I would win. I called him after my round, and I just started, like, bawling. I was in tears because I wish I could, like, celebrate that special moment with him.
“He is obviously a very special person in my life. I think having met Jun — was I meant to say his name (laughing)? Having met him, I think he motivates and inspires me to become a better person and a better player.
“I think when I first met him, it was just before — it was just before my win in Hawaii and then actually a few of the girls said, Hey, he is your lucky charm. I think Megan also said that too (laughing).
“I was, like, Yeah, I’ve got to keep him around.
“For a while when things weren’t going great in my career, I would — my identity felt so connected to golf. Having met him, I feel like he is introspective in life and in my golf.
“So, yeah, he is someone that I’m very thankful for, and I really wanted to win once in front of him.”
Clearly, Ko is in a very happy place and that it is reflecting on her on course performances is no real surprise.
“Yeah, this year has been an incredible year,” added Ko. “I really could never ask for more to win so early in the season and then to have won in Korea and then win the last event of the year. I couldn’t have drawn it up any better. There have been so many exciting things in my life that’s been going on.”