Lydia Ko, a professional golfer from New Zealand, secured the No. 1 spot in the Women’s World Golf Rankings as a 17-year-old, becoming the youngest player ever, male or female, to hold that position. At 15, she became the youngest player to win an LPGA Tour, a record she held until 2017. Ko captured her first major at The Evian Championship in 2015, becoming the youngest woman to win a major championship. She followed it with a second successive major title at the ANA Inspiration in 2016.
The two-time LPGA Player of the Year (2015, 2022), Ko, was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 2024, its youngest member at 27. She has a complete set of Olympic medals, winning silver in Rio (2016), bronze in Tokyo (2020), and gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, making her the first modern golfer to achieve this feat. Ko was recognized as Young New Zealander of the Year in 2016 and appointed Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2025, becoming one of the youngest modern dames for her outstanding contributions to golf.
Who are Lydia Ko’s parents?
Lydia Ko was born on April 24, 1997, in Seoul, South Korea, to her parents, Hyeon Bong-sook and Ko Gil-hong. When she was six years of age, her family emigrated to New Zealand, as revealed by The Gentlewoman. Unlike Ko, her parents showed no initial interest in golf. However, her aunt, Insook Hyon, developed a deep passion for the sport, influencing Ko’s introduction to the game.
As reported by the Women’s Golf Journal, Lydia Ko's family, initially from Seoul, had intended to move to Canada, where her sister was studying. However, they headed to New Zealand instead. In an interview with TVNZ in 2012, Lydia's former coach, Guy Wilson, shared how Lydia and her mom had walked into his shop one day and requested golf lessons. Talking to reporter Abby Scott, he said, "They moved in across the road, came into the pro shop and said they wanted to start golf. I couldn’t initially see [Lydia] at that point because she was about an inch tall and couldn’t speak a word of English.”
FAQ's On Lydia Ko’s Parents
A. Lydia Ko was born in Seoul, South Korea, and has a South Korean ethnic background.
A. Lydia Ko's husband Jun Chung works in finance at Hyundai, as per Bunkered.
A. Lydia Ko is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs around 143 pounds.
A. Lydia Ko came to New Zealand when she was six years old, as per thegentlewoman.co.uk.
