Lydia Ko Hints Retirement Is Closer Than Ever Despite Trashing ‘Quit at 30’ Plans

Will Lydia Ko bid adieu to the greens just as Lexi Thompson did? Fortunately, the Kiwi Pro still has a few years in the bag. Ahead of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open, the 27-year-old revealed that the 2024 season probably won’t be her last as a pro, as she plans to continue in 2025 too. Although Ko once shared how she would like to retire by the time she is 30, with only three years left for that statement to become a reality, the newly inducted Hall of Famer has made some changes to her plans.

The New Zealander tossed the idea of the window and even wondered why she said such a thing in the first place and explained that till now she had not decided on anything yet. However, just when the fans would have gotten a bit joyous, Ko hit them with not-so-good news at the latest edition of The Scoop with Claire Roger.

Lydia Ko explains when she will retire from golf

After winning her first Olympic gold medal, Lydia Ko was blessed to enter the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame at the age of 27! It was once the jaw-dropping achievement of the two-time major winner and after a winless 2023 season, it was quite unattainable. However, the beginning of the 2024 season renewed hopes for Ko’s entry into the HOF.

Like every athlete’s worst fear, Ko also doesn’t want to leave the game of golf on a sour note and say goodbye to the game when she might not be performing her best. Thus, she set another goal for herself: to retire while she can still play her best golf. The 3-time Olympic medalist said, “As long as I’m competitively playing, I want to win as much as I can and compete at the highest level and I want to retire, still loving the game and still playing well, not because I feel I can’t compete anymore.” 

Over the past decade, Ko has relished her time as a pro golfer and she is grateful for it. So it made sense that the Kiwi pro wants to end this chapter on a good note. Although she was aware that leaving the game at the peak of her career might be a bit selfish and hard to attain, one could always try. And henceforth, even though she now became a HOF member, Ko said, “I don’t want my goal to just stop at the hall of fame.”

With a few seasons still left for her on the greens, the 20-time LPGA Tour winner would have several records left to accomplish and have the opportunity to reach greater heights in her career. But what will become of the phenom after her playing days are over? Which profession would she choose?

Lydia Ko describes her second career after golf

While the Kiwi pro was honing her skills to become one of the best on the greens, she was also putting in hours to her academics. Lydia Ko studied psychology at Korea University and that passion has traveled with her through all these years. Talking about her second career at the Subpar podcast, she said, “There’s always a second career that comes along with it and I’m trying to build up towards it and, because I’m playing a sport, psychology links well with it.”

As mindset plays a huge role in any sport, Ko was fascinated with psychology and the idea of knowing why people behave a certain way in different environments. Additionally, the 20-time LPGA Tour winner revealed that she always loved connecting with people and psychology allowed that. So, whenever Ko plays her last game, she may then turn to be a psychologist. She said, “I’ve definitely considered pursuing a career in counseling after my playing days are over, or perhaps going into a field where I can connect what I know about golf to psychology.”

For now, golf remains her priority and she will definitely be seen more on the greens. But when she does hang her clubs, you know where to find her!