Gestures are important; no matter how small or how big. After all, this is how you show you care right? If not everyone, Lydia Ko gets it. Her latest revelation is a testament to it. The Kiwi golfer treated a few of her fellow players, and LPGA Tour’s support staff to some Korean barbecue after the Monday practice round at the BMW Ladies Championship in Busan. Chella Choi, who is currently on maternity leave, often treated the LPGA Tour players and the staff ahead of any event. Looks like Lydia Ko has taken it on her shoulders to continue the tradition in her absence, and she did not deny that.

When asked whether Choi was the inspiration behind her warm gesture, Ko gave an assertive response. “Yeah, Chella used to do that; give a little, I guess, experience to the LPGA staff and some of the players that came over for this event,” she said. But she has her own reason as well for this arrangement.

“I guess, kind of my thought behind it as well, especially I’ve had such a grateful year, a lot of positives. I think one of the fortunate things for me is I’ve gotten a lot of support from my fellow competitors and players who play on the LPGA. As much as we are playing against each other and we want to be the one that finishes at the top of the leaderboard every week, they have been super supportive, and some of them are girls that I’ve just known for a long time,” Lydia added. But there is one more reason which is very close to her heart.

“Korea is a very special place for me. It’s where I’m born and it’s something that it’s — it’s a place that I’m very proud of. I know that a lot of the players are excited to eat Korean barbeque when they come. So I was hoping that would be kind of a nice way to start this week for them,” the 2024 Olympic champion added.

The dinner that took place at the BMW Ladies Championship’s official hotel had Rose Zhang, Jeeno Thitikul, Lauren Coughlin, Megan Khang, Hinako Shibuno, and Celine Boutier in attendance. Indeed, it takes the legacy of Chella Choi forward. Choi’s ritual started some 15 years back. Do you know how meticulously crafted those have been?

“Two weeks before, I make a list,” Choi had said in 2018, taking special requests from guests and making sure that there was a nice spread of South Korean foods on offer ­– bulgogi, noodles, and soups. At Korean barbecue, the meats are often prepared on grills that are built into the tables.

Choi’s annual dinner party had first started as a thank you to LPGA staff and rules officials. In that initial gathering, Choi’s first appearance at the KEB Hank Bank Championship, there were about 15 guests. But as players kept seeking recommendations for local Korean barbecue, Choi kept sending invitations to players, caddies, and even the media. Not only food, but Choi was also particular about the ambiance as well.

“When we are eating U.S. Korean restaurants, always we are sitting in a chair, right? I wanted you guys sitting on the ground,” she had said in 2018, the year when the gathering took place at Wal Mae Jip, a small restaurant owned by Mr. Hwang, an actor and friend of Choi’s father, Ji. Meanwhile, at BMW, Ko has the best record on tour over the past three seasons.

Her combined score of 52 under par is 11 strokes better than any other player in that span. Alison Lee is the closest at 41 under, according to KPMG Performance Insights. Ko won this event in 2022 while also remaining in top 3 in 2021 and 2023. Apart from that, to say that Ko has had a terrific run in this season, would be an understatement.

A three-time winner on the LPGA this season, she bagged the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which helped her get into the Hall of Fame. The Kiwi became the 35th member to enter the Hall and at 27 years, 3 months, and 17 days, is the youngest under the current criteria. She also ranks fourth on the LPGA money list this season with $2,569,317. If these were not enough, then know this. Lydia Ko has had one of the greatest comebacks this year.

Going winless in 2023, she bagged three wins this season and added another major feather to her hat by winning the AIG Women’s Open trophy. The 22X LPGA Tour winner is also the player with the highest number of bogey-free rounds (134 rounds). While Nelly Korda has been on top of the Rolex list of the best female golfers with Ko sitting in the third position, when it comes to the list that Ko has topped, she is not even in the top 5.

This sure does not defy that Korda has also had a beautiful season. She created history by winning 5 consecutive events on the Tour, including a major. The sensational season has sparked debate in the golf world as to who will be this year’s Player of the Year. However, the No. 1 Korda was absent at the BMW Ladies Championship after suffering a minor neck injury during practice. The two are surely against each other on the greens with the heated battle going on, but off the greens, they are each other’s biggest cheerleaders. 

Nelly Korda reflects on her friendship with Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko and Nelly Korda became friends through Jessica Korda, her elder sister. The two had met in a playoff at the LPGA Drive-On Championship, where the American won after a late comeback. Korda has always been clear about her goals, putting all friendships aside.

“Always have one goal in mind, and that’s to lift the trophy at the end of the playoff,” Korda had said despite her off-course friendship with Ko. In the end, Korda reiterated that it doesn’t matter. “As friendly as you are when it comes to a playoff you just have to put that aside,” she said.

However, she also made a point to state, “Lyds and I have a really good friendship. She’s been someone that I looked up to actually and also enjoyed playing alongside and competing against.” She further added, “She’s one of my better friends out here.” And Korda has not stepped back whenever she had an opportunity to praise Ko.

When Lydia Ko was close to getting inducted into the Hall of Fame list, among all the players who complimented and cheered on her, Nelly Korda was one of them. “She’s super resilient and hard-working and super dedicated,” she said. She also added that no matter how difficult the time has been for her, Ko has always bounced back, just like she did this season.