Golf superstar Lydia Ko just added another incredible achievement to her already stunning career – she’s now Dame Lydia Ko, one of New Zealand’s highest honors.
At just 27, she’s the youngest New Zealander ever to receive a damehood, which is basically the female version of becoming a knight.
Ko’s been absolutely crushing it in the golf world. This year alone, she won gold at the Paris Olympics, adding to her silver from Rio and bronze from Tokyo. Talk about an Olympic collection!
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. She made history by becoming the youngest ever LPGA Hall of Famer in 2024, capping off a career that’s included 30 pro wins and three major championships.
What’s really mind-blowing is how early she started breaking records.
At 14 – when most kids are just starting high school – she became the youngest person ever to win a professional golf tournament, taking the women’s New South Wales Open in Australia.
A year later, she was already winning LPGA events. Let that sink in: winning professional tournaments at 15.
Then came perhaps her most impressive record. In February 2015, Ko became world number one at just 17 years, 9 months, and 9 days old – the youngest golfer ever, male or female, to reach that milestone.
The Korean-born superstar, who now calls Orlando, Florida home, has become one of New Zealand’s most celebrated athletes. Her journey from teenage prodigy to Dame is pretty remarkable, especially considering she’s still in her prime.
With this latest honor, Ko adds another jewel to her crown – though knowing her competitive spirit, she’s probably already focusing on her next tournament.
