Dame Lydia Ko says another Olympics is not on her radar
New Zealand golfer Dame Lydia Ko.
Photo:
CARMEN MANDATO / AFP
Dame Lydia Ko has again hinted that retirement may not to be too far away with the 2028 LA Olympics not on her radar.
Ko lines up in this week's PGA Championship in Texas hoping to fulfil one of her dreams, completing a career Grand Slam.
She won the British Open two week's after her Olympic success last year to add her third major title.
Victory at either the PGA Championship or the US Open would give her that honour.
The 28-year-old said after her golden run in 2024 that
her plan remains to retire within three years.
Following the recent success of Ryan Fox on the PGA Tour, Ko was this week asked if she would like to team up with him in the new mixed-team competition at the Los Angeles Olympics.
"In Paris we were both like this is probably our last Olympics," Ko said.
"I think it's a really fun format to have, but I think it's very unlikely that I will be competing in that one."
Ko, who completed her Olympic set of medals with gold in Paris last year, thinks that golf has been on the Olympic programme long enough now for it to be changed up.
"I think it's a great way to integrate the sport.
"I'm excited to see it (mixed teams), whether I play in it or not is not really the big thing."
The big thing now for Ko though is another major title.
She feels that she has a PGA Championship victory in her.
"The PGA Championship is the one that I could-should win, like the type of golf courses we play."
Seven women have completed career grand slam, the last was Inbee Park in 2015.
New Zealand golfer Dame Lydia Ko.
Photo:
Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire/Photosport
Ko admitted she probably shouldn't have won the British Open last year, so to do that means anything is possible.
"That is where I had not the best record going into St Andrews last year and especially coming off the Olympics, so if I made the impossible possible.
"I feel like if I'm playing good golf and I'm smart and committed then hopefully I can give myself opportunities.
"I'm enjoying playing a lot more these days and that just puts me in a better mindset."
Ko became the youngest player to win on the LPGA Tour claiming the Canadian Open as a 15-year-old amateur in 2012.
She turned pro in 2014 and has now won 23 times on the LPGA Tour and 15 times in other parts of the world.
Her major victories were the 2015 Evian Championship, the 2016 Chevron Championship and the 2024 British Open.
She finished second at the 2016 PGA Championships and tied for third at the 2016 US Open.
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