Lydia Ko Says Winning Never Felt as Easy as It Looked and Reveals Why

Feb 25, 2026, 5:30 PM CUT

Lydia Ko is set to defend her HSBC Women's World Championship title. Ahead of the event, Ko explained the 'sweat and tears' hidden behind every effortless victory.

Arriving at Sentosa Golf Club after a top-five finish at the Honda LPGA Thailand, the New Zealand athlete is in good form.

"You're such a great player. Did you ever have doubts?" a reporter asked during the pre-game press conference. So Ko revealed the reality of facing tough competition.

"Yeah, I think there's been multiple times where I wasn't sure if I would win or not again. I think when you've played well and things came more. It was never easy," explained Lydia Ko.

"Outside-in, it might look easy, but even if she shoots, or whoever shoots 64, it was never easy," Ko said at the conference. In her comments, Ko points out the challenges that the fans do not see outside the ropes and the bottom line of the scoreboard.

The defending champion acknowledged experiencing substantial self-doubt throughout her career. She explained that when practice doesn't translate to performance, even elite players start to doubt if they can win

The Reality of Professional Dominance

Ko believes every player faces tremendous pressure to win, regardless of their past success. The example that she gave was of Jeeno Thitikul, who won a trophy. Ko stated that she was mindful of the intense "sweat and tears" that are invested in the journey toward earning that trophy.

These mental challenges made her victory in Singapore in 2025 especially satisfying. "I think when I did overcome it, it was more rewarding because there was a phase not too long ago where I felt like that moment was probably not going to happen."

To enhance her chances of remaining on the tour after 13 years, Ko has consciously chosen to focus on her process rather than results.

She is driven by the allure of winning a career Grand Slam, which to her means the U.S. Women's Open. She is also pleased that her game leans more towards greater fundamental strength.

Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi