As the LPGA Tour 2024 season winds down with the final tournament on the horizon, it’s been a year packed with excitement. And when it comes to standout performances, one name that’s hard to overlook is Lydia Ko. She’s had an incredible season, with three LPGA Tour wins, including a major at the AIG Women’s Open, her third major title and her first in eight years.

Ko started the year strong, taking home the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions win, and then grabbed another victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship in September. But she didn’t stop there—she also snagged the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, completing her medal trifecta. The Olympic gold gave Ko the final point she needed to make it into the LPGA Hall of Fame. At just 27, she’s now the youngest player to be inducted under the current criteria. Impressive, right?

But of course, it hasn’t been all a cakewalk. Like any golfer, Ko also had her fair share of struggles. Her recent performance at The ANNIKA, where she finished at T14, didn’t quite match up to her impressive year so far. But isn’t such ups and downs a part of any sport? 

Now, with just one event left, the CME Group Tour Championship, before the season concludes, Ko has one more chance to shine. And for Ko, this territory is nothing new. She’s teeing it up in her 10th CME Group Tour Championship this week at Tiburón Golf Club. She’s already won this tournament twice, in 2014 and 2022, and has five other top-10 finishes. So, she’s more than familiar with the pressure of this event.

So, can Ko make it a third win at the CME? Only time will tell. But before we get to the final chapter of her 2024 season, let’s take a look back at some of her best moments from the CME Group Tour Championship.

1. Her first CME Group Tour Championship win: Ko claimed her first victory at the CME Group Tour Championship when she was just 17. She entered the final round three shots behind, but a bogey-free 68 helped her catch up and force a playoff. She went on to clinch the win in style, making par on four consecutive trips down the 18th hole during the playoff, defeating Julieta Granada and Carlota Ciganda. She won a $1 million prize.

After her win, an excited Ko said, “When I saw that $1 million in the box, I was like, ‘Wow, I wonder who the winner of that will be?’ It`s amazing. I`ve never seen that much cash in one place before. This year has been awesome.” Since then, Ko and winning have been synonymous.

2. Her 2022 win led to a series of titles: It took exactly seven years for Ko to gather her form and win back her CME Group Tour Championship title in 2022. But this win was a little more special for Ko, as she not only clinched her second CME trophy but also secured the 2022 Player of the Year award for the second time in her career and the Vare Trophy for the second year in a row.

“To be the Player of the Year and to win the Vare Trophy again and to win the CME Group Tour Championship, it’s a dream come true. To be able to do it in front of family and my team, you know, it’s a very special one,” said Ko. With rounds of 65 and 66, she built a solid lead, which she held onto despite strong competition from Leona Maguire. But that wasn’t all; apart from those decorated titles, she also bagged a staggering prize money of $2 million and the No. 1 spot on the money list.

3. An emotional return with a 2022 win: Ko was just a teenager when she secured her first CME Championship win. While at that time, a $1 million check was what excited her, the emotions during her second win were entirely different. During the final round of 2022, Ko was under pressure but kept her cool, sinking key birdies at 16 and 17 to take a two-shot lead. That set up a two-putt par for another 70, confirming her second win.

As the winning moment sank in, Ko wiped away tears and handed her winning golf ball to a young fan. Reflecting on her journey during the post-win press conference, she said, “I was still pretty young; I was still in my teens; I don’t think it really sunk in those moments. But when I had that short putt and I knew all the things that were going to happen after that putt, I think all those emotions kind of settled in.” Indeed, after clearing a drought of her winless streak at the CME Tour Championship, this win was nothing less than a “dream come true.”

4. Ko has been a consistent player at CME. Just two wins so far, and the third is yet to be grabbed. So what about the rest of her CME appearances? Well, though she couldn’t claim the title, she didn’t fail to impress either. Ko has been a consistent performer at the CME Group Tour Championship, with five Top 10 finishes. With finishes such as a T7 in 2015, a T10 in 2016, and a T5 in both 2018 and 2020, her resume is nothing short of remarkable.

5. Ko accompanied a furry friend with her to the CME event: Ko’s 2022 CME win marked her last victory as a bachelorette, as she tied the knot with her fiancé, Chung Jun, later that year. While the year was indeed special, this year is nothing less, as now she and her husband have recently adopted a Shiba Inu puppy, whom they have named Kai. 

Recently she brought Kai to the golf course. “It’s been a special year,” she added. “Adopted this handsome man at the Mizuho in New York, so it’s been awesome. To be able to share these moments with my family and my team has honestly been a fairytale of a season.” Ko, now in Naples, Florida, for the CME Group Tour Championship from November 21-24, clearly finds a balance between her career and personal life.

With the season finale around the corner, do you think Ko can make history again? Let us know in the comments!