Lydia Ko lately defined how she pertains to Rory McIlroy’s mindset following his historic win at Augusta Nationwide earlier this yr. The LPGA Tour professional shared her ideas concerning the Northern Irishman whereas she was in an interview with a well-liked Golf.com reporter.
This yr’s April was an necessary chapter for McIlroy. He earned the inexperienced jacket and cemented his place because the sixth profession grand slam winner. Following that, Rory has admitted that he struggled to understand what’s subsequent for him. Lydia Ko established an exquisite feat final summer season when she received gold on the 2024 Olympic Video games.
That victory was instrumental in her turning into a Corridor of Famer within the sport. Ko additionally secured a victory on the 2024 AIG Ladies’s Open a number of weeks after Paris. On Tuesday, Lydia Ko admitted that she understands what McIlroy is at present going by. Golf Endlessly shared a quote, a snippet from her interview, reflecting what she felt:
“I believe I assumed my life or possibly the best way I thought of myself would change…”
Earlier than she would tee off at this yr’s KPMG Ladies’s PGA Championship, Ko shared intimately how she feels about McIlroy’s state of affairs. Check out the total assertion of Lydia Ko’s interview from the PGA Frisco (quoted by Golf.com):
“…once I obtained within the Corridor of Fame and did a variety of the issues I needed to do earlier than it really occurred, and I’m certain Rory is considering the identical in related components, the place all people was like, oh, Masters is the one he was lacking. Like what if? After which he did it.”
“And as a lot as I’m certain he’s so joyful and relieved, he’s simply nearly as good the day earlier than, like earlier than he received it.”
Lydia Ko’s phrases come after McIlroy admitted about his dip in motivation following the spectacular Masters win. Amidst his resolution to keep away from media, Rory additionally went viral after the U.S. Open when he admitted to alter his mindset for the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
It is price noting that Lydia Ko’s phrases are coming simply earlier than she climbs her personal Everest this week. Ko will likely be trying to safe her profession grand slam win by securing the KPMG Ladies’s PGA Championship title.
Lydia Ko compliments Rory McIlroy’s “competitiveness”
McIlroy had a devastating weekend at Oakmont Nation Membership. He needed to face up to waves of criticism following the tee marker smash, membership throw, and media ignorance.
Days after that, the PGA Tour veteran has obtained reward from Lydia Ko, one of many main names in ladies’s skilled golf. Ko stated (quoted by Golf.com):
“I’m fairly certain he needed to win the U.S. Open when he teed it up.”
“It’s the identical. We’re grasping in that sense, like nothing will fulfill us absolutely till we’re executed… I believe that’s the rationale why we play. That’s why he’s at his stage due to his competitiveness.”
Ko, a three-time main winner on the LPGA Tour, will likely be formally a profession grand slam winner if she wins this week’s main at Fields Ranch East. She’s going to tee off from gap 1 round 8.28 am EST alongside Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul.
Edited by pranavsethii