Every issue, GRAZIA Singapore highlights a Game Changer who inspires, educates and celebrates individuality, beauty and style. This month, meet Lydia Ko, the golfer whose unmatched skill, resilience, and determination continue to redefine the world of women’s golf.
Lydia Ko has been a dominant force in professional golf since her teenage years, cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s most formidable players. With an unwavering drive and a career that boasts multiple LPGA titles, the professional golfer recently added another triumph to her name by winning the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore. Fresh off her victory, Ko sits down with us to reflect on her win, her journey, and the challenges she faced.
This is your 23rd LPGA Tour victory. Can you describe what the HSBC Women’s World Championship 2025 means to you?
It means a lot. When you return to the same tournament at the same venue, you get to know the people here. I’ve built some great friendships, and there are always junior girls who come with signs bearing my name. They truly make it a memorable experience. I’ve had both good and bad weeks out here, but regardless of whether I’m teeing off from No. 1 or No. 10 or what time it is, they are always there for me. That’s what makes this event so special.
And of course, this tournament is called Asia’s Major, so adding it to my collection of majors is really cool. Overall, it’s just been a fun week, and I focused a lot on myself—that was the key to winning.
You’ve been in the last group here before. How does it feel to finally get across the line this week?
I’ve been in the final group a couple of times. One of the most unusual experiences was when we hit our drives on the 18th hole, and they blew the horn because of thunderstorms. None of us in the group were going to win, so it was a strange feeling knowing we had a hole left to play while the winner had already been decided. I think it was Inbee [Park] who won that year.
Because I’d been in this position before, it wasn’t entirely new. There were a lot of people out there, and I fed off their support. I’ve had some really poor rounds here, but I know this course well, and that played to my advantage. I’ve been here and done that, so it didn’t feel like a completely unfamiliar experience.
You looked really relaxed on the course. Was that what you were feeling on the inside?
Of course, I was nervous—I wanted to play well. But I’ve played with Charley [Hull] and Jeeno [Thitikul] quite a bit over the past couple of years, and they’re two of my favorite players to play with. I’m always impressed just watching them. I knew it was going to be a great pairing and a fun day.
All three of us have very different playing styles, so it was important for me not to get too caught up in what they were doing and to stick to my own strategy. I think I managed that well.
Yes, it’s nerve-wracking, but it’s also exciting. We don’t get to contend every week, and our goal is to be in contention more often. The more times you’re in that position, the better you handle it. To win this early in the season is great. Regardless of the outcome, I knew it was going to be a great day of golf.
This is the 17th year of HSBC sponsoring this event. How important is HSBC’s role in this tournament, given their long-term support of the LPGA?
Some partnerships come and go—that’s just the reality. But HSBC has been one of our longest-standing partners, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support and belief in women’s golf. Every year, they find ways to elevate the tournament, whether it’s through unique experiences for fans, live drumming performances, or events like the summit.
They always bring something fresh, which is why this event is so special for everyone. As a tour, we’re lucky to have a partner like them—not just for one or two years, but for 17. I truly believe this is a partnership that will continue for a long time. I’m also thankful to Kee Joo [Wong] for representing HSBC, and I hope that whoever follows will continue to support us. Even when my time competing is over, I look forward to watching this event in Singapore on TV.
Can you talk about your emotions and what was going through your head, especially on the back nine?
I just wanted to play steady. I started off really consistently, hitting a lot of greens, which I knew would be key. I was aware that Jeeno and Charley hit it much farther than I do, so distance wasn’t going to be in my favor. But as long as I played steady golf and gave myself good looks for birdies, I felt like some of them would drop.
Making my first birdie on six and then three in a row was definitely good momentum heading into the back nine. The good thing about getting the pin positions the day before is that you can gauge which holes will play tougher or easier. I had a feeling that today, nobody was going to shoot an ultra-low score. So I just focused on a number in my mind and stuck with it—that was all I could do. I think I did that really well, and I’m really proud of that.
When you made birdie on 15, was that when you realized you had achieved your dream?
It was a long putt. My main goal was just to two-putt. I honestly didn’t think it was going in until it lipped in. When things like that happen, you start thinking, “Oh, maybe it is my time to win this event.”
But with 16 being a reachable par five and a couple of good finishing holes ahead, I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. I just focused on how I was going to approach the remaining holes. Still, holing a long one like that was nice—it gave me a little bit of a cushion. It was at a length where a two-putt wasn’t automatic, so making it felt like a 1.5-shot swing in my favour.
Can you talk about how you made that putt? It was so long.
Yeah, I actually practiced that putt a few times during my practice round—probably three times. I hit it short once and long once, so I remember thinking, “I really hope I don’t end up with this putt in the actual tournament.”
When I did, I was scratching my head a little bit. But since I had practiced it, I knew it was going to break right to left. I hit it knowing the speed was decent and that I wouldn’t have a long comeback putt. As I was walking, it looked like it was tracking, but I wasn’t sure if it would keep breaking or stay straight. It ended up being perfect.
That’s why I think practice rounds are so important. Even though I’ve played this course frequently, you always want to get a better feel for how the greens are rolling, especially in terms of speed and slope. In this case, my bad putts in practice ended up helping me make a great one in the tournament.
A lot of players have talked about the course conditions—how pristine and perfect they are. How did you find them?
Honestly, this is one of the most consistently maintained courses we play. The greens tend to get firmer throughout the week because of the heat and wind, but the course is always in immaculate condition, and it’s been that way every time we’ve played here.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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