HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

January 21, 2024

Lydia Ko

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

TV

Q. Lydia, after a winless season on the LPGA, when you wondered when or if you would play well again, you come out and win in the first event of the year. What kept you working towards this moment?

LYDIA KO: I think the finish that I had last year, not only winning Grant Thornton but I played really well in Korea and in Malaysia. Maybe if I had found the keys that I found then a little earlier, maybe I could have had a better season.

I think if you keep going down a spiral of thinking like what if, it's endless. I worked hard in the two weeks leading up to this event. To win at home has been nice.

There were definitely nerves, but a little less just because it is my home course. To see so many of the members come out and clap and cheer me on, I think that was the best part of this week.

Q. This victory marks your 20th career win on the LPGA Tour, one point from qualifying for the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame. How much will that be a motivator for you over the rest of the season?

LYDIA KO: I thought two was really close and now one is really, really close. I'm literally right in front of the door.

No, I think my mindset was, hey, I'm going to do all the things I can do and try and do a good job of that. If it happens, it happens. If not, just not meant to be mine to be in the Hall of Fame.

And to give myself a better chance of it now after winning this week is definitely really cool, but hopefully nothing changes internally, where I'm not going to get too crazy about what may happen.

Just try and play and continue to play solid golf and see where that puts me.

Q. To have started off this strong with the victory right away, how does this set up for you the rest of the year?

LYDIA KO: I won last year my first event and kind of went sideways very quickly, so to not get too cocky. I'm playing next week in Bradenton and that's a new golf course for me. I'm excited to go out there.

It's a short turnover, but maybe I can take all the goods from this week and take it to next week. Florida has been great to me so hopefully another good week next week.

Q. To win here on your home course at Lake Nona, being a part of this unique field, how would you describe the overall experience this week.

LYDIA KO: It's awesome. I played with Mardy, Taylor and Jeremy this week, and they're legends in their sports. You know, so many of the other celebrities that were here, they are just golf fans, and to be able to play alongside them and pick their brains, it's been so much fun. I think this is a great way to start the event, to make it a little bit more chill and maybe not as tense as any other event.

But I'm looking forward to playing more of these and getting to meet other people that are excelling in their industry, and hopefully get some good vibes from them because I clearly did this week.