Lydia Ko Hosts Korean-Style Barbecue Ahead of BMW Ladies Championship

In an act of hospitality, Lydia Ko, the third-ranked golfer in the world, hosted a Korean-style barbecue dinner for fellow LPGA players and staff. This event took place ahead of the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea, near the official tournament hotel. Some of the prominent golfers who attended included Rose Zhang, Jeeno Thitikul, Lauren Coughlin, Megan Khang, Hinako Shibuno, and Celine Boutier.

Lydia Ko’s gathering is reminiscent of a tradition started by fellow golfer Chella Choi, who is currently on maternity leave. Ko expressed appreciation for the support she has received from competitors on the tour, stating, “As much as we are playing against each other, they have been super supportive, and some of them are girls that I’ve just known for a really long time.”

Ko has an impressive record at the BMW Ladies Championship, having secured a victory in 2022. Over the past three seasons, she has outperformed other players with a combined score of 52 under par. According to KPMG Performance Insights, this score is 11 strokes better than the nearest competitor, Alison Lee, who scored 41 under during the same period.

This year, Ko has already won three LPGA titles and recently earned a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame as the 35th member and the youngest under the current criteria. Her earnings this season stand at $2,569,317, placing her fourth on the LPGA money list.

The BMW Ladies Championship, which will be held at the Seowon Valley Country Club for the second year, features a significant field with 17 of this season’s winners participating. However, the tournament will miss the presence of top-ranked Nelly Korda, who is recovering from a neck injury.

Earlier this year, Ko added to her accolades by winning an Olympic gold medal and her third career major at the AIG Women's British Open at St. Andrews. Recently, she claimed victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship and placed 10th at the Hana Financial Group Championship on the KLPGA tour.

Now into her 11th season, Ko’s successful track record remains evident, as this marks the fifth time in her career she has won at least three tournaments in a single season.