Lydia Ko Breaks Silence Over Chevron Championship Setback as Frustrating Weather Conditions Adds New Challenge

What’s more challenging for a golfer: fighting your swing or battling Mother Nature’s worst? For Lydia Ko, the answer came in torrential downpours at Liberty National Golf Club. The rain hammered down relentlessly during Friday’s second round of the Mizuho Americas Open. Ko faced the elements with the resilient mindset that characterizes her approach to the game.

“It’s frustrating at times because you know you’re hitting it well when the conditions are tough,” Ko admitted in her post-round interview with the media in New Jersey. “That’s probably the toughest part of just playing in the rain.” This honest assessment came after a round where she battled her swing and the elements. Despite the challenges, Ko found a way to thrive where others struggled.

She improved notably compared to her recent performance. “Yeah, you know, I’ve been hitting the ball a lot better, which has been nice,” Ko explained. “I drove it decently at Chevron, but my irons were really poor.” She finished at a disappointing T52 at the season’s first major, so this candid self-assessment was much needed. It highlighted the areas where she had been working to improve her game. The results were evident in her solid play despite the adverse conditions.

The weather forecast predicted a 96% chance of rain with winds gusting up to 18 mph. These conditions created a perfect storm of difficulty at Liberty National. “For the first nine holes, everything was soaked,” Ko explained. Her caddie, Paul, had to remove his hat because his yardage book had become as heavy as a dumbbell from moisture. Yet, through it all, Ko maintained her focus and execution, and it worked. She shot 71 in the second round and sits at T13 after 36 holes in the $3M event.