Does Lydia Ko despise Nelly Korda? It might seem so after what the world no. 1 recently pulled against her fellow LPGA Tour pro. In January 2024, Ko was lined up to get her Hall of Fame honor. All she needed to do was win the LPGA Drive On Championship at the Bradenton Country Club. The New Zealander was on the path to claim the title only to be stopped in her tracks by Korda. Playing in her home city of Bradenton in Florida, the then eight-time LPGA-Tour winner wanted to win at her birthplace. She tailed Ko till the end and dragged the event to playoffs. That’s when Korda overcame her adversary on the course and won the 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship.

With that, Lydia Ko lost her opportunity to enter the Hall of Fame. After learning what she had done, Nelly Korda mentioned, “I did send her a message after the playoff though. You know, we’ve been friends for a long time. We’ve played in many groups together throughout our careers on tour. She’s always someone that I enjoy talking to and playing with. There is no bad blood, I hope. On my side, there is not, but I don’t know about hers,” in the Founders Cup press conference a year later. Korda’s regret for denying Ko the opportunity is evident in her words. But does the current world no. 3 still hold a grudge against her?

Based on Ko’s press conference prior to the 2025 HSBC Women’s World Championship, she seems to be focused on the bigger picture. “You know, women’s sports is on a high from the WNBA of what Caitlin Clark, or even in golf, what Nelly did last year, is unheard of. That’s a very rare year, and not only that but women’s soccer and so many sports are on a high. I do feel like the LPGA has been riding that trend,” said the New Zealander, as she commended the efforts of both, Nelly Korda and Caitlin Clark. The two women have been extremely influential in their respective sports and for women athletes in general.

Ko also showed appreciation towards the amazing sponsors for helping LPGA stars shine. She believes that it’s up to her and her peers to “capitalize on the kind of momentum,” and take strides towards the bigger picture. We can assume it would be competing with other, more popular leagues in golf. Ko believes that this is the best opportunity for all the LPGA Tour stars to grow the league as they are getting larger compensations for a “missed cut” allowing them to manage their expenses adequately. 

She added, “I feel like we’ve had a lot of growth with that, and I believe that we’re only going to get bigger, and that’s really thanks to all of the partners, like a CME or whoever that have really kind of taken this step with us.” It sure does seem like Lydia Ko has forgotten the incident from a year ago and forgiven Nelly Korda. But did she ever get a shot at the Hall of Fame again?

Lydia Ko’s pursuit of LPGA Tour greatness

Ko’s Hall of Fame hopes took a hit, but not just because of Nelly. That par on the 18th at the 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship was a crucial miss. Fortunately for her, that was not the last shot that she had at getting a Hall of Fame induction.

A few months later, Ko made her country proud by representing them to win the Golf Medal in the Paris Olympics. Not long after, she was also awarded a place in the Hall of Fame. Speaking about reaching the goal, Ko said, “I didn’t grow up thinking that I would become a Hall of Famer; I felt like that was out of my league.” And yet, she became the youngest golfer to get the prestigious LPGA induction. For all her achievements in her career, Lydia Ko definitely deserves to be a part of the LPGA Hall of Fame, don’t you agree?

Top Comment by eugenekhoo

sure, any rivalry is good for golf. Tiger and Phil without them i probably would not have taken up golf.

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