"Different type of sport": Lydia Ko on what makes men's golf so different
AIG Women s Open 2025 Lydia Ko NZL during the final round of the AIG Women s Open 2025, Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Wales. 03/08/2025 Picture: Golffile Phil Inglis All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Phil Inglis Porthcawl Royal Porthcawl Golf Club Bridgend Wales Copyright: xPhilxInglisx *EDI*
AIG Women s Open 2025 Lydia Ko NZL during the final round of the AIG Women s Open 2025, Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Wales. 03/08/2025 Picture: Golffile Phil Inglis All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Phil Inglis Porthcawl Royal Porthcawl Golf Club Bridgend Wales Copyright: xPhilxInglisx *EDI*
Three-time major winner Lydia Ko has teed up alongside Open winner Ryan Fox innumerable times. She was quick to realize that men’s golf was on a whole different level.
As Fox secured his first major title at Royal Birkdale two weeks ago, nobody was happier than Ko. The pair grew up representing New Zealand, and the LPGA pro was left astonished by Fox’s game.
“Even in junior golf, I was like pretty straight and didn't hit it very far but hit it very straight. He would hit it like offline, but then hit it so far,” Ko said at Royal Lytham & St. Annes GC. “I had never really played with a golfer like that. He would shoot the easiest 65 while being in the trees. So it felt like a different type of sport for me."
NAPLES, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Lydia Ko of New Zealand tees off on the first hole during the final round of the LPGA Golf Damen CME Group Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 19, 2017 in Naples, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire) GOLF: NOV 19 LPGA - CME Group Tour Championship - Final Round PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon171119060
NAPLES, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Lydia Ko of New Zealand tees off on the first hole during the final round of the LPGA Golf Damen CME Group Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 19, 2017 in Naples, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire) GOLF: NOV 19 LPGA - CME Group Tour Championship - Final Round PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon171119060
According to data provided by Shot Scope, the driving distance average on the LPGA Tour is around 256 yards. On the other hand, on the PGA Tour, it is 294 yards.
38 yards is a huge difference, and as Ko pointed out in her pre-tournament press conference at the AIG Women’s Open, men’s driving game is a different sport.
Moreover, the USGA & R&A are set to introduce a rollback policy from 2030 to prevent traditional courses from becoming obsolete as PGA Tour driving distances rise.
Golfers will get their hands on a transformed ball.
The same issue does not arise for the LPGA Tour, but the rollback policy will anyway affect the female pros.
Despite how impressively Fox hits it far, he still ranks 28th on the PGA Tour’s driving distance leaderboard with an average of 313.
Fox came out on top at the Open Championship. Ko found it hard to control her emotions.
Ko's Emotional Support as Fox Chases History
Lydia Ko had her fingers crossed as she watched Fox at the final hole of the Open Championship. As the 39-year-old landed the 12-ft birdie to win the title, Ko couldn’t keep her emotions to herself.
“He was on the 18th, and when I saw that drive I was like so relieved but like so excited, super pumped,” Ko said in the same press conference. “I screamed as I went in [to the house]. I closed the door, and I screamed. I was like, ‘Yes!’ My husband ran out and was like, ‘What's happening?’ Ten seconds later I was just crying."
It was a sensational performance by Fox. The victory came on the back of a record-matching championship round on Moving Day and an immaculate closing stretch on the final day.
Finishing at 10-under 270, Fox edged world No.3 Cameron Young by a stroke and lifted the Claret Jug.
What are your thoughts on Ko’s statement on men’s golf? Let us know!
Written by
Avishek Sarkar
Edited by
Rudra Dubey