Lydia Ko off to flying start in 2026
Lydia Ko – shares the lead in a tournament she won two years ago – file image USGA
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and England’s LPGA Tour second-season player, Lottie Woad, share the halfway lead at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at the Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando.
Ko, who won this tournament two years ago, added a second round of 67 to her opening 69 to be tied at the top at 8 under par, the leaders one ahead of Korean Amy Yang and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka in a foreign-dominated leaderboard where only one player in the top ten is American.
Ko was pleasantly surprised at how well she had played over the opening 36 holes.
“I surprised myself a little bit yesterday. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I saw a lot of good and I think I just kind of carried on that momentum to today.
“I think it was really important to capitalize on how nice the weather we had these last couple days because I think everybody is expecting a cold front to come in this weekend.
“So, yeah, I think I’m in a good position leading up to some tough golf ahead.”
Ko is very much aware of the quality of player she shares the lead with.
“Yeah, she’s (Woad) obviously a very impressive player. The way she came on Tour through the LEAP program and winning the Irish Open and then almost winning in Evian and then winning the Scottish Open, she kind of came on with a bang.
She was obviously a player that I had known and seen before she was part of the LPGA. It’s no surprise that she’s playing great golf here.
“Outside of just her talent, she seems like a very hard worker, and she’s grinding out there before and after play. I think all of that time and effort really shows in the results.
“It’s been very impressive to see. I personally didn’t know Lottie very well, but in the times I’ve gotten to talk to her she’s very sweet and very funny.
“I enjoy her company. I’m not really sure how the pairings will be for tomorrow, but it will be fun to play alongside her.”
Ko is the only Australasian in the field, others who would have been eligible for the event, preferring to wait until the Asian swing in mid-February to get their season underway.
