WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Hall of Famer Lydia Ko has been named a Dame in New Zealand’s New Year Honors List for her services to golf.
A dame is the female equivalent of a knighthood and she became Dame Lydia Ko after receiving one of New Zealand’s highest civilian honors on Tuesday.
Ko is the youngest New Zealander, aged 27, to receive the honour.
Korean Ko won the women’s tournament at this year’s Paris Olympics and in 2024 also became the 35th and youngest inductee into the LPGA Hall of Fame. Ko won a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and a silver medal at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Ko was described in a citation accompanying the honors list as New Zealand’s most successful golfer with 30 professional victories, including three majors.
In 2012, Ko became the youngest player, male or female, to win a professional championship when she won the New South Wales Women’s Open in Australia at the age of 14.
A year later, at age 15, she became the youngest player to win an LPGA event. In February 2015, aged 17 years, 9 months and 9 days, she became the youngest player to reach world No. 1.
Ko is based in Orlando, Florida.
