FORD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY WILD HORSE PASS

March 28, 2025

Lydia Ko

Whirlwind Golf Club

TV

Q. Alongside Lydia Ko, who shot a nice 67 today. You were kind of treading water there for a little bit. Bogeyed 12 and had a fantastic finish. What changed to allow yourself to finish so well?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I just gave myself a lot good looks for birdies. Just with how firm the course is, I was kind of scratching my head on the 11th thinking, why does it feel like I had a poor ball striking day. I didn't, but just with how firm the greens are sometimes it's really hard to get really close to the pins.

I think the thing I did really well today was just stay patient. That's what Paul said to me as we were walking down 18. He was like, I'm proud of you for staying patient today. I think that that's going to be the key over the weekend too. The course is probably only going to get firmer, so it's going to leave me in some iffy positions.

I just got our to keep my head high and hit one shot at a time. I think that's what led to the good finish today.

Q. We all know when you come to the desert it's usually low golf, deep under par. How do you maintain an aggressive attitude yet not try to press too hard?

LYDIA KO: I think I Charley hit the nail on the head yesterday with that. I personally didn't have a 9-under in my bag, but how she played, she just hit a lot of quality, good shots, and then she holed a few mid-range putts. I think those are the ones that kind of take that momentum one step further.

But, yeah, it's hard because you're left with 20 yard pitch shots maybe for an eagle and you have a 30-footer coming back. So you do have to work and balance it out. When you do have the opportunity, try and grab it.

The course is in really good shape, so I feel like when you're in a certain proximity to the hole you have good chance of holing it as long as you have somewhat of a good idea of what the read is doing.

Q. Speaking of momentum, you had a win a few weeks ago at HSBC, a tournament very dear to year heart, Asia's major. You said you were going to add it to your major collection. What did that do for you as far as momentum goes?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, you know, last year was, I don't know I could call it a miracle year, story tale. When you have a year like that you kind of wonder what the year after is going to be like. I felt like winning in Cincinnati in September was proof that it wasn't fluke. I finished the season off really strong.

Every new season that comes is a whole new chapter. I've had some great seasons and backed it up with very mediocre seasons as well. To kind of have a win under my belt I think gives me a little bit more freedom.

I feel like I'm in a position right now where I can just focus on my game and continue working on the things that I've been working on with my coaches and just be free out there.

Obviously that is a great place to be, you know, I guess as a mindset, really outside of the technical things. So, yeah, I think playing with freedom. This amount of freedom is actually the first time. In that way I think I am trying new things when things aren't the going well. It has worked to my favor until now, but it's a continuous grind, and I'm playing alongside the best female golfers so it's not easy.

But I'm enjoying it and I'm excited to kind of enjoy Tour life more for the rest of the season really.

Q. I love it. The grind never ends. Golf is always more enjoyable when you're winning or up near the lead.