‘Form Is Temporary’: After a Tragic Blow to Her Title Defense, ‘Class’ Lydia Ko Finds Solace in Fans’ Unwavering Support

Golf is a “fickle creature” said a veteran PGA Tour pro just a week ago. At this point, no one knows it better than Lydia Ko. One year you’re at the top of the world with four trophies under your belt, the next year, you’re almost on the verge of losing your tour card. After a roller-coaster 2023, the 19x LPGA Tour winner knows it all.

As the realization that she won’t be eligible for the tournament she won last year hit the Kiwi golfer, she took to Instagram to share some unfiltered thoughts. She admitted she was crushed, but she hoped for a better outcome at the Grant Thornton Invitational. Her fans too, rallied behind the Former World No.1.

A gutted Lydia Ko reflects on the 2023 season

A 31st-place finish at the Pelican Golf Course meant Lydia Ko failed to qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship. Last year, Ko won the season-ending tournament to take her trophy tally for the season to four. That also elevated her back to the No.1 spot.

After The Annika, she posted a heartfelt message for her fans. “This year was far from what I expected, but I believe a lot of good comes from this learning experience.” This year hasn’t gone Ko’s way. The former world no.1 failed to win a single title in the LPGA Tour this season. Moreover, she needed a sponsor exemption to defend the title at the BMW Ladies Championship as well.

Since she played on a sponsor exemption, her third-spot finish at the tournament didn’t earn any points. And after her hopes of a CME Group Tour title defense flamed out at the Annika, the 26-year-old LPGA Tour Pro admits that she is crushed. But she still hopes for a better finish at the Grant Thornton Invitational next month, as she wrote on her Instagram post, “While I’m gutted to miss the tour championship, excited to finish the season strong alongside @jasondayofficial @grantthrontoninv in a few weeks.”

Fans, however, came overwhelmingly in support of the Kiwi star. Posting supportive comments on her post, they showed that despite a poor 2023 season, the New Zealand native’s insane achievements are not lost on anyone. 

Fans haven’t forgotten Ko’s astonishing achievements

This year, several experienced LPGA Tour pros suffered. From Lexi Thompson to Nelly Korda, the list is quite long. This fan pointed that out when they wrote, “You were not the only veteran for whom 2023 was disappointing.”

However, this wasn’t the first time the Kiwi golfer went through a rough period. In 2021, she won her 16th LPGA Tour title, ending a three-year title drought. One fan hoped to see another revival like that. “I look forward to your second comeback.”

Read More: Amid a Dismal Season by Champion Lydia Ko, Who Are the Top 5 Players in Contention for the 2023 LPGA Vare Trophy?

Regardless of whether she is winning or not, her game has been a joy to watch for most., this fan included. “You’re such a pleasure to watch in the competition.” They were not the only ones though. Another user commented, “Lydia. Ko. Rocks. Always.”

Ko is just 26. But in the mid-20s she is just two points shy of entering the LPGA Tour’s Hall of Fame with 19 titles under her belt including two Majors. This fan put a gentle reminder of that. “Form is temporary, class is permanent. Have fun at GT!”

Grant Thornton Invitational tees off next month. One of her fans felt the star deserved the month-long break after all the effort she put in the last few tournaments. “You deserve the rest and time off. We look forward to watching you excel next year.”

Lydia Ko will surely find some solace in knowing that she can still win hearts despite not being at her A-game. An excellent feeling for any golfer, indeed.

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