Afraid of an ‘Identity Crisis’, Lydia Ko to Resume What LPGA Career Forced Her to Give Up
Lydia Ko has never been just a golfer. The New Zealand prodigy turned professional at 16, won an LPGA event before she could legally drive, and by 21, had already notched two major titles, 14 LPGA wins, and the world No. 1 ranking. In 2024, she made history once again, clinching the LPGA Drive On Championship and the HSBC Women’s World Championship, along with an Olympic gold medal, en route to becoming the youngest-ever inductee into the LPGA Hall of Fame.
But while her swing has earned her a place among golf’s elite, Ko has always had her sights set beyond the course. “I’m fascinated by social psychology, which centers around why people behave a particular way in a set environment,” Ko once said—a reflection of a long-standing academic interest that’s quietly shaped her perspective. In 2015, even at the height of her early stardom, Ko enrolled in psychology courses at Korea University in Seoul. She studied extramurally to accommodate the global grind of the LPGA Tour, signaling even then that her ambitions extended far beyond birdies and trophies.
Now, with more than a decade on tour and a résumé few could rival, Ko is beginning to speak more openly about her next chapter, and finishing that psychology degree could be the centerpiece. For one of the game’s most thoughtful champions, life after golf might be her most intriguing challenge yet.
In a recent interview with GOLF.com, Ko offered rare insight into that transition. “I’m excited for what’s ahead,” she said. “But before I retire, I do want to plan what I want to do after retirement—whether it’s travel for six months, or go—one of my big things is to, um, start studying again, finish my psychology degree.” This echoed a sentiment she’s voiced for a decade now: that education and curiosity are central to her identity. Ko understands the challenges of elite sports, but she’s also acutely aware of what comes next. “I want to kind of have all those things lined up before I retire,” she added, “because I don’t want to get into that moment of an identity crisis, to be honest.”
