By: Max Bechtoldt
Obviously it goes without saying, the Olympic Gold would mean the world to any player. LPGA, LET and JLPGA players alike this week have all agreed that nothing means more to them than representing their country. Superstars like Lilia Vu and Jin Young Ko have both said this week means more than any other, including majors. But perhaps nobody would be more thrilled to win than Ko.
Ko is currently tied for the lead at -9 with Morgane Metraux of Switzerland. This is Lydia’s third-career time representing New Zealand in the Olympics. She’s played pretty well to say the least. In Rio, Ko was the silver medalist behind South Korea’s Inbee Park, and in Tokyo she won bronze behind USA’s Nelly Korda and Japan’s Mone Inami. If she could win gold, she would be the first golfer, men’s or women’s, to win three Olympic medals. She would also complete the “medal sweep” getting all three.
It isn’t just winning a medal for herself and New Zealand that Ko would earn with gold. It is also induction into the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame based on reaching the necessary points threshold. The LPGA Tour HoF is the most difficult to reach in all of sports with its “objective” criteria of 27 points based on wins, majors and postseason awards. Ko currently has 26, and would earn one point for a gold medal win.
Ko, an undisputed legend and superstar on tour for her entire professional career, has already made her intentions clear, to retire by the age of 30. She’s currently 27. This may be her last games she plays in. It would be a pretty awesome way to end her Olympic career if she can win gold, and clinch the Hall of Fame.
