When Grace Kim won a tournament in Australia, something unexpected followed. A notification showed that Lydia Ko had started following her on Instagram.

According to Golfweek, 25-year-old Grace Kim recalled the moment, “I was like, oh, this legend started following me; I must be good,” Kim said with a laugh.

Looking back, Kim said she was surprised by the gesture and took it as a sign that she was on the right track, laughing as she remembered the reaction.

Two-time LPGA Tour winner Grace Kim and twenty-three-time LPGA Tour winner Lydia Ko share a connection that began long before they competed on the same stage.

From early on, Kim followed Ko’s career and used it as a direction while working toward professional golf. Over time, that connection moved beyond watching from a distance.

As their careers progressed, they also found themselves competing in the same events. They faced each other at the 2025 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, where Kim (Australia) defeated Ko (World Team), and both are part of the field at the 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup.

At the same time, their paths show different stages. Kim secured her first major at the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship, while Ko has built a record that includes multiple major titles and a long-term presence on tour.

Because of this, their relationship reflects both competition and continuity, with one player shaped by the other’s journey, now sharing the same space while building her own.

For Ko, the impact has not been limited to players like Grace Kim. It has also been felt by those who have shared space with her on tour.

Lindy Duncan on Lydia Ko: “She’s Totally Irreplaceable”

Apart from Grace Kim, Lindy Duncan also shares a connection with Lydia Ko that comes from time spent together.

They became close in Orlando while practicing at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, where Duncan saw Ko’s presence from a different angle.

Because of that, she understands what will be missing when Ko steps away.

“I don’t want it to ever end,” Duncan said. “She’s totally irreplaceable.”

Lydia Ko and Lindy Duncan continue to compete on the LPGA Tour, but their paths are not the same.

While Ko’s career has reached a later stage, Duncan is finding momentum again, marked by her receiving the Heather Farr Perseverance Award in 2025.

This contrast places them at different points, even as they remain part of the same tour.

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Shraabona Sengupta