It’s not often that one Hall of Famer interviews another. At the HSBC Women’s World Championship, seven-time major winner Inbee Park had a conversation with Lydia Ko up the 18th fairway at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore.
“You look good,” said a smiling Ko as they met up on the tee box. “Retirement looks good.”
Park, now a mother of two, last competed on the LPGA in August of 2022 at the AIG Women’s British Open. The 37-year-old gave birth to her first child, daughter Inseo, in April 2023. Yeonseo arrived in October 2024.
Park and Ko, just under a decade apart, have won 44 LPGA titles between them, including 10 majors. They’ve also each won Olympic gold.
“It was only my second year on tour,” said Ko. “To play with somebody like you, in ways, I felt like I was out of place. Even to this day I’m in awe of your demeanor, and your putting was amazing. … I realized this is what it takes to be this consistently good.”
Now, as 28-year-old Ko takes on the role of elder stateswoman, she reckons what she’s feeling now is what Park must have been feeling back then. Park told Ko that even though she was the more experienced one, she learned from the prodigious Kiwi even without trying.
“I always thought your play style was a little bit similar to me,” said Park. “You really have good putting skills and you have that good demeanor and very calm play style.”
