Last season, Lydia Ko won an Olympic gold medal in Paris and finished third on the LPGA money list. And the former world No. 1 hasn't missed a beat in 2025.
This past weekend, the 27-year-old won the HSBC Women's World Championship, giving her 23 career victories on the LPGA Tour. The win also served as a bit of a personal milestone, as Ko had failed to win this event in 10 previous attempts.
After opening with a 1-under round of 71, she broke 70 in each of the final three rounds, shooting 67-68-69 over the final 54 holes to finish at 13-under for the week, four clear of both Ayaka Furue and Jeeno Thitikul. Ko ultimately averaged 4.75 birdies per round over the final three days en route to taking the title.
Ko had a remarkable 2024. In addition to her gold medal, the New Zealander won three additional tournaments and consistently Thitikul and Nelly Korda for the money title throughout the season. She also won her third career major, taking the AIG Women's Open at famed St. Andrews this past August.
Her victory this past weekend was her first since the Kroger City Queen Championship in September, and she's already setting herself up for yet another strong season.
Lydia Ko currently sits atop the LPGA money list
Unreal 40-footer by Lydia Ko in Singapore to put the tournament out of reach. 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/MIUsS7kvLc
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 2, 2025
Speaking with the media following her victory in Singapore, Ko noted her steady start and how she didn't put herself in too much trouble. "I just wanted to focus on my game," she said, and she's certainly been doing that in the early weeks of this 2025 season.
Ranking third in both money and points a season ago, Ko again ranks third in points in the Race to the CME Globe behind A Lim Kim and Yealimi Noh but sits atop the money list with more than $450,000 in earnings.
She's been impressive in her first three tournaments of the year, ranking in the top 10 in Round 2 and Round 3 scoring.
Ko also ranks fourth place on the LPGA in bogey-free rounds with three and ranks 10th in sand-save percentage at 76.92, highlighting both her steady play and commitment.
In addition to her victory, she finished in sixth place at the Hilton Grand Tournament of Vacations in January, firing a 65 in the third round to help secure another top-10 finish.
If Ko can continue to play like she did this past week, she'll undoubtedly be hoisting many more trophies this season.