"Some days, I could kiss my putter": Lydia Ko discusses her 'love-hate relationship' with golf

Lydia Ko is gearing up to compete at the AIG Women's Open. The final LPGA Major is scheduled from August 22 to 25 at Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Ko, who recently entered the LPGA Hall of Fame by winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris, is in great form. She won the tournament by two strokes over Esther Henseleit. In the pre-tournament press conference, before the AIG Women's Open, Lydia Ko was asked if she had a love-hate relationship with golf. She said (via Golf Digest):

"Oh, yeah. I mean, some days it's hate, hate, hate. And some days, I could kiss my putter, you know. It's just, I think that's just the way it works. I have walked off the golf course with tears in my eyes from joy and from frustration. And I think that just shows how deeply invested we are."

Ko further said that golf has been central to her life and that there was a time when she used to wonder why she couldn't go to the school camp with other kids, and why she had to go practice after school. However, she said that all those moments have brought her where she is now. She further said:

"And I think I've had my fair share of emotional ups and downs. But that's just part of it. And I don't think that's because I'm just playing golf. I think that's with anything in life. And you're going to sometimes have the better days and sometimes not have a great day. But that's just life."

"And I think golf is a very, golf puts everything kind of into perspective. And I think it gives you life lessons outside of just becoming a better golfer," she added.

Lydia Ko will tee off at 12:26 p.m. in the first round of the AIG Women's Open on Thursday, August 22 with Celine Boutier and Ally Ewing. She'll look to win her third Major Championship of the year at St. Andrews.

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A look at Lydia Ko's performance in 2024

Lydia Ko has had an amazing 2024 season with one win and five top-5 finishes on the LPGA Tour. She is currently positioned sixth in the Race to CME Globe rankings.

Ko won the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at the beginning of the year by two strokes over Alexa Pano. She finished runner-up in the LPGA Drive On Championship behind winner Nelly Korda.

Ko's other notable finishes include a T4 at Blue Bay LPGA, a T8 at the CPKC Women's Open, and a ninth finish at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open.

Let's take a look at Lydia Ko's performance in the 2024 season:

2024 LPGA Tournaments

• Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions: 1 (69-67-68-70, 274, -14)
• LPGA Drive On Championship: 2-y (65-70-69-69, 273, -11)
• HSBC Women's World Championship: T34 (76-70-71-72, 289, +1)
• Blue Bay LPGA: T4 (68-70-66-71, 275, -13)
• Ford Championship pres. by KCC: T13 (69-64-70-70, 273, -15)
• T-Mobile Match Play pres. by MGM Rewards: T18 (71-74-76, 221, +5)
• The Chevron Championship: T17 (69-71-71-75, 286, -2)
• Cognizant Founders Cup: T35 (69-71-75-71, 286, -2)
• Mizuho Americas Open: Missed Cut (72-77, 149, +5)
• U.S. Women's Open pres. by Ally: Missed Cut (80-73, 153, +13)
• KPMG Women's PGA Championship: T46 (75-73-76-73, 297, +9)
• The Amundi Evian Championship: T39 (65-73-72-71, 281, -3)
• CPKC Women's Open: T8 (70-71-72-69, 282, -6)
• ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open: 9 (69-69-71-74, 283, -5)

2024 OLY Golf (W) Tournaments

• Olympic Women's Golf Competition: 1 (72-67-68-71, 278, -10)