Lydia Ko sets sights on career Grand Slam after Olympic triumph

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has set an ambitious new goal: completing a career Grand Slam. In women’s golf, this prestigious achievement is defined as winning four of the five major championships on the LPGA Tour.

Ko, who recently won gold in women’s golf at the Paris Olympic Games, secured her third major title in eight years by triumphing at the AIG Women’s Open on Monday. Her previous major victories include the Evian Championship 2015 and the ANA Inspiration 2016. To complete the career Grand Slam, Ko needs to win either the U.S. Women’s Open or the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. If she achieves this, she will also hold the rare distinction of a Golden Career Grand Slam, factoring in her Olympic gold medal.

Lydia Ko has long aspired to win all five majors, a dream she has nurtured since childhood. However, she admitted to Reuters that she struggled with self-doubt following a period of stagnation in her professional career. Once hailed as a golf prodigy, Ko won 14 LPGA Tour events between 2012 and 2016. But starting in 2017, she experienced a slump, managing only two wins in five years. Her victory at the AIG Women’s Open has renewed her confidence, and she now believes she is capable of completing the career Grand Slam.

As Ko revives her chances of achieving this remarkable milestone, questions arise about how this pursuit might influence her retirement plans. Ko had previously stated her intention to retire by the age of 30. Reuters reported that the vision of completing a career Grand Slam could keep her around a while longer.


Yun-Cheol Jeong trigger@donga.com