Ko’s deeds make her greatest sportswoman

We are lucky to be living at a time in which New Zealand’s three greatest sportswomen are all active, with golfer Lydia Ko a clear No 1.

That is no disrespect to kayaker Lisa Carrington and shot putter Dame Valerie Adams, or the three names from years gone by nestled in the second tier just behind them – squash queen Dame Susan Devoy, boardsailor Barbara Kendall and athletics pioneer Yvette Corlett (nee Williams).

But what Ko has already achieved at the age of 24, and with six years (hopefully more, if she changes her mind about retiring at 30), simply cannot be topped by any of them.

The tipping point, and what inspired this column, is her comeback of all comebacks in the past 12-18 months when, without wanting to sound hyperbolic, it looked like she may never be back.

Having swept all before her in an illustrious amateur career that included winning a professional tournament at the age of 14, becoming the youngest player, at 15, to ever win an LPGA Tour event, and an eternity as the top-ranked amateur in the world, Ko breezed into professional ranks.

Winning was a regular occurrence. Finishing in the top 10 was second nature. She didn’t miss a cut in her first five years. She did things no golfer, including Tiger Woods, had done. It culminated with backto-back major wins, in 2015 and 2016, an Olympic silver medal in 2016, and by June 2017 she had spent a total of 85 weeks as the top-ranked golfer in the world.

But golf is the sort of sport where, physically and mentally, it can be tough to sustain form and results.

Even the best of all time struggle. Woods did not win a major between 2008 and

2019 as he struggled physically, with injuries, and mentally (remember his chipping yips), not to mention his personal life issues.

So Ko entered a slump. Only she really knows why. Perhaps it was the effect of all the caddie/coaching/swing changes catching up with her. She became an average player with average results right through to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The only apparent thing that had not changed was her love for the game.

Working with US coach Sean Foley, she found something in the Covid-enforced mini-break, and has steadily returned to the top. Her swing looks great, her short game is excellent, and she’s draining putts. She won again on the LPGA Tour in April, she won again on the European Tour in Saudi Arabia a couple of weeks ago. Those results sandwiched a second Olympic medal, bronze in Tokyo, as she became the first golfer – man or woman – to win multiple medals at the Olympics, just another history-making achievement in a sport that has an ancient history compared to others.

She almost won a second LPGA event of the year last Monday. She qualified for this weekend’s LPGA Tour season finale in third place. She is back to No 5 in the world rankings, too.

It really has been the comeback of a champion, and New Zealanders are loving it, too.

Ko stands alone in terms of popularity of current Kiwi sportswomen among Stuff readers. With all due respect to Adams, Carrington, the Black Ferns et al, Ko commands a regular readership like no other, especially when she is in contention to win a tournament.

Our most read story at the Olympics was about Lydia Ko. The story of her bronze medal outrated Adams and, surprisingly, Carrington’s amazing gold medal-winning, record feats, which were arguably the story of the Games.

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why that is. Carrington, Adams and Ko strike as charming and endearing to the public in their own ways. They are all superstars. My best guess is that golf is simply a more global, popular sport, more relatable and attractive to the average person than shot put and 200m sprint kayaking, which are niche to a degree. Almost everyone can play, or has played, golf. Who has putted a shot, or raced a kayak over 200m?

Ko is also on the telly most weeks, whereas Carrington and Adams go weeks/months on end out of the limelight, or battling away in unhelpful time zones in Europe. Perhaps Kiwis feel slightly more attached to Ko, having essentially watched her grow up on our TV screens.

The simple fact is golf is a truly global sport, and Ko has been at the very top of it – as an amateur and a professional – since she was 12. At 24, she has done everything. Perhaps a couple more majors, another stint as world No 1, and an Olympic gold to complete the set might be all that’s left for her. She has said she’ll retire at 30. If so, let’s enjoy the next six years or so, and watch NZ’s greatest sportswoman in action while we can.