Lydia Ko emerged victorious at the LPGA’s HSBC Women’s World Championship, outshining England’s Charley Hull in a thrilling battle. Ko’s dominant four-stroke win marked her 23rd LPGA title and first victory since last September. Hull, just one shot behind her entering the final round, saw her title hopes fade with a frustrating 74, settling for a share of fourth at seven under. Ko, on the other hand, found her rhythm after a slow start, hitting the par-five sixth hole and adding back-to-back birdies on the next two holes to seize control of the leaderboard.

Despite dropping two bogeys after the turn, Ko closed with a solid 69, finishing 13-under par for the tournament. Well, the win wasn’t as easy as she made it seem. Don’t believe us? Hear from the golfer herself. Reflecting on her battle with Charley Hull, Lydia Ko admitted that she was nervous, but her familiarity with Hull’s game helped her stay focused. “Obviously I was nervous. I wanted to play good golf. But I’ve played with Charley and Jeeno quite a bit over the past couple years, and they are some of my favorite players to play with,” Ko said at the HSBC Women’s World Championship press conference. Despite the nerves, she enjoyed the pairing, praising Hull’s game and acknowledging that it was a fun day out on the course.

Ko appreciated the opportunity to compete against such talented players, and she was impressed by their skills. “I’m impressed just by watching them,” she said, highlighting the high level of competition she faced. Her strategy was to focus on her own game rather than getting pulled into Hull’s decision-making.

For her, the thrill of competition is exhilarating, and she acknowledges that it’s not every week she gets to contend. “Yeah, it’s nerve-wracking but it’s also exciting. It’s not every week we get to contend, and obviously our goal is to be in contention more and more often. I think the more times you do that, it’s obviously going to happen at some point.”

“It was important for me to not get too pulled into what they were doing… and just kind of focus on my strategy and the course management that I set early in the week,” Ko explained. By staying focused on her own game plan, she was able to execute her shots with precision and confidence. Her approach paid off, as she secured a dominant four-stroke win, claiming her 23rd LPGA title. Notably, while the tournament was going on both golfers took a moment to talk about their retirement.

The 28-year-old Hull quickly put an end to any thought that she was considering following in the footsteps of recent LPGA stalwarts Lexi Thompson, Ally Ewing and Brittany Lincicome and looking to hang up her golf shoes. “I don’t think that’s about me, surely,” Hull said. “Lexi is retiring but not me. Definitely not me. I’ll play golf until I’m on my deathbed.” Ko’s reply was a bit different.

Ko, in the past, has said on record that she plans to retire by the age of 30. While that stand has become a little less firm lately, Ko might have finished playing the major share of her golf. “Thirty is a long way to go,” she said. “I’m 27 now. Soon turning 28. I’m just trying to honestly take it day by day. My schedule has changed. I’ve gone from thinking I was going to play ten, 15 events this year to now playing over 20. And then also kind of reassessing during the middle of the season where I am with my energy levels [and thinking] am I going to play more or less?” All that being said, let’s take a look at how much Ko pocketed for her win.

How much money did Lydia Ko win at the 2025 HSBC Women’s World Championship?

Lydia Ko had a great game at the 2025 HSBC Women’s World Championship, winning the tournament by four strokes. She finished with a score of 13-under, making five birdies and two bogeys in the final round. Ko’s impressive performance was a testament to her skill and determination, and she was rewarded with a big prize. The tournament was an exciting one, with some of the world’s top golfers competing for the top spot.

Ko earned $360,000 for her win, which is a big part of the $2.4 million purse. The runners-up, Ayaka Furue and Jeeno Thitikul, each got $195,302. Charley Hull, Jin Hee Im, and Gaby Lopez, who tied for fourth place, each earned $104,318. Ko’s win also moved her up the All-Time Career Money List, surpassing Aussie golfer Karrie Webb. She now sits at just $1,988,588 shy of legendary golfer Annika Sorenstam‘s record. Before chasing the top spot, Ko made sure to give credit where it was due, showing her humility and gratitude for the support she’s received.