Lydia Ko returns to the LPGA this week and kicked things off in her native South Korea with a kind gesture of hospitality. The newly-minted LPGA Hall of Famer treated a large number of LPGA players and staff to a Korean-style barbecue dinner near the BMW Ladies Championship’s official hotel.
Rose Zhang, Jeeno Thitikul, Lauren Coughlin, Megan Khang, Hinako Shibuno and Celine Boutier were among those in attendance.
Chella Choi, who is currently on maternity leave, began a similar tradition as a thank you to LPGA staff nearly 15 years ago at the tour’s annual South Korean stop.
“Yeah, Chella used to do that, give a little, I guess, experience to the LPGA staff and some of the players that came over for this event,” said Ko. “You know … my thought behind it as well, especially [since] I’ve had such a grateful year, a lot of positives.
“I think one of the fortunate things for me is I’ve gotten a lot of support from my fellow competitors and players who play on the LPGA. As much as we are playing against each other, and we want to be the one that finishes at the top of the leaderboard every week, they have been super supportive and some of them are girls that I’ve just known for a really long time.”
Korean BBQ night, courtesy of Lydia Ko! (1/2) pic.twitter.com/hRMafnhDes
— LPGA (@LPGA) October 14, 2024
Ko, currently ranked No. 3 in the world, won this event in 2022 and has the best record on tour at the BMW over the past three seasons. Her combined score of 52 under par is 11 strokes better than any other player in that span, with Alison Lee coming the closest at 41 under, according to KPMG Performance Insights. Ko also finished in the top three at this event in 2021 and 2023.
A three-time winner on the LPGA this season, Ko qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame this summer with her gutsy victory at the Paris Olympics. The popular Kiwi became the 35th member to enter the Hall and the youngest under the current criteria at 27 years, 3 months and 17 days.
She ranks fourth on the LPGA money list this season with $2,569,317.
The BMW’s field of 78 boasts 17 of 18 winners this season, with No. 1 Nelly Korda noticeably absent after suffering a minor neck injury during practice. This marks the second year the event has been held at Seowon Valley Country Club, with Minjee Lee winning in 2023.
Ko’s hot streak dates back to August when she took a share of eighth at the CPKC Women’s Open. She followed that with an Olympic gold medal and her third career major championship victory at the AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews.
After a brief respite, Ko returned to action at the Kroger Queen City Championship in Ohio last month where she won again. She then immediately flew to South Korea, where she finished 10th at the Hana Financial Group Championship on the KLPGA.
Ko’s 11th season on the LPGA marks the fifth time in her career that she’s won at least three times in a season. The most wins she’s recorded in a single season is five back in 2015.
