LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY HOAKALEI

September 30, 2026

Lydia Ko

Hoakalei Country Club

Press Conference

MATT JESUS: All right, joined by Lydia ahead of the 2026 LOTTE Championship. Your first start at this event since 2022. What do you remember about the course then versus what you've seen from the course today?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I'm super excited to be back. I didn't play particularly well the last time I was here. I think I was defending when I did play. So, you know, I kind of came into the week with a different mindset.

It's definitely nice to be here. I've been in Hawai'i this past week, so I'm trying to get used to the wind and luckily it has died down a little bit compared to what we had last week.

So it's been nice to see how the golf course has played differently just with all the different conditions.

But, yeah, I've a lot of great memories here in Hawai'i. I'm excited for a great week.

MATT JESUS: How do you prepare for conditions like this? Would you say it's similar or different than preparing for links-style golf?

LYDIA KO: It's different in the sense of like we had a little bit of rain, obviously a little bit more rain this morning, so the golf course is playing a lot softer than I think what they wanted.

But the same thing about links golf and here is that when it is windy it's just really hard to get the greens super firm and fast because we obviously want the ball to not be oscillating too much.

So I think just getting used to that. Since I've been here there has been a few different wind directions and the course can play completely different. I think it is a tricky golf course but it is like all right in front of you, so you're not going to be surprised by your ball ing in some situations.

But, yeah, you just have to I think be aggressive for the most part. When it is windy, ultimately you can't really beat the wind, so you're just trying to play the best you can with the conditions that you have in front of you.

MATT JESUS: Had a nice break since we last saw you at FM Championship. How nice is it to prioritize might not be the right word, but have these stretches of breaks as we wrap up the season here?

LYDIA KO: I actually only had a week off between FM and my -- I had my sponsor's event, Hana Financial Championship in Korea in between. So I had a week off and I had that event and then I had a week off coming into this week, so not a lot of the rhythm.

To be honest, I played pretty terribly in Korea, which sucked to be honest, because I don't play in Korea very often. When it's your main sponsor's event, obviously I want to play well in front of the chairman and all my family and all my supporters.

So I was disappointed that I didn't have a good week there, but, you know, I put in a lot of good solid work leading into this week and I feel like my game is at a much better place than I was two weeks ago.

So we made progress. Obviously when you tee it up on Thursday I just kind of have to get used to some of the things that I've been working on, but it's nice to have a built-in stretch. I actually have a bigger few weeks off after this week, so I want to have a really good week to kind of feel like the work that I've been putting in is actually paying off.

The last couple months has been a little bit of good, a little bit of bad, so it'll just be nice to put it all together and have these next few weeks to work on that and have some good R&R before the Malaysia event, which is the one I'm playing.

MATT JESUS: Just a few more from me. Slowly, slowly inching towards the all-time money record for the LPGA Tour. How much is that on your mind, and how much of an honor would it be to pass Annika's long-standing record?

LYDIA KO: To be honest, it's really not on my mind. I mean, Annika had like 70-plus wins and we are just playing in a very different generation where we're playing for so much more money.

We had -- we have the biggest payout in women's golf at CME Tour Championship, and that all started with the Globe and becoming the championship. Our majors are stepping up. All our events, partners are stepping up and really supporting women's golf.

I think we all have the same vision on how we want our Tour to be. Craig has done an incredible job of bringing different media partners and opportunities outside of just the purse.

So it's not really on my mind because I think it's really not comparable. Her 70-something wins in this generation and these kind of purses she would be miles and millions ahead of us.

Yeah, I just don't think it's really the same thing. For me, like winning as many as I can while I'm playing is more important than how much money I make. Even if I win the smallest purse out here, which I don't even know which event that is, that still matters because I won an LPGA event.

So it's kind of -- I think sometimes we get too carried away about the money. I'm very grateful for the opportunities we have, and I think as golfers we're very lucky because it's one of those rare things where if we perform we get rewarded. Not all work, not all careers have that.

So I think I'm just very grateful to be in this position and be able to excel at my job and have a great pay out days. But I just think my career versus Annika's, it's so different. I don't think I'm going reach 70-something wins in the time that I'll be playing.

But obviously I want to win as many as I can. I'm still eager for the trophy more so than the prize.

MATT JESUS: Absolutely. Yeah. Just a few more. And then WTGL kicking off in a couple weeks. What are you most excited about and what do you think the fans can expect that differs from what they see on the course?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I'm wearing New York Golf Club colors, navy and white. I'm super excited to be part of the New York Golf Club. It was kind of one of the ones I really wanted to play for. We have a great team with Linn, Rose, Danielle, and Yana. I feel like I know most of the girls fairly well.

It's I think great to have a platform, slightly different platform of showcasing the best female golfers. I think golf is developing more and more like that. It's not just your standard 72-hole stroke play. There is match play, team events; YouTube golf has become a really big thing.

Yeah, this kind of I guess opens I think the demographics of people that really watch. Sometimes golf might be boring your standard 72 holes, but having platforms like the WTGL and the TGL and all of the above I think gives an opportunity for golf to grow in diversity outside of the people that normally watch golf.

I think that's just great for not only our generation, but really for the future generation. That's just a trend where everything is going these days.

Q. I know five years ago you won the LOTTE. Different course, but what do you think you can draw from that experience?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I played really well. The LPGA tagged me in a few of the shots that I hit on that Sunday. I hit the ball really well; made a lot of birdies. I think I shot 28-under par, which is crazy.

I don't think 28-under par is kind of the winning score out at this golf course, but I just remember I played with a lot of freedom and confidence, and I think I could draw on a lot of that. Like the mindset of how I was playing then.

But it is two very different style of golf courses, so it's hard to kind of compare those. But more like kind of the mindset I played with, I think that's something I can draw on not only for this event, but the events that I have coming up.

Q. I know on the PGA side there is some tournaments moving away from Hawai'i. I'm sure a lot of fans are eager to still watch the best of the women play, like yourself. What does that part mean to you, just having so many local fans that want to see you and the rest of the best that the LPGA has to offer?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, Hawai'i is amazing. I have a lot of great memories here on and off the golf course. You know, I always love coming here. The LPGA announced that we're having a collegiate and our Tour players kind of mixed event call Nanea Cup next year. That's on the Big Island. I'm excited that we're going to have another tournament in Hawai'i.

It's hard to speak for the PGA TOUR because they're is completely different entity and I really don't know too much about like their decisions on why some of the changes have been made for their schedule.

Ultimately I think the Tour is trying to make the best decision for their membership. I'm excited to have that addition on the Big Island, and hopefully people that maybe aren't able to come over for Kona will be able to come out for Nanea Cup. Lotte has been a big sponsor and supporter of this event, so I'm excited to see where this tournament goes, too.

Q. Not to put you on the spot, but where does Hawai'i rank among your favorite stops on the Tour to play?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I love coming to Hawai'i. I like coming to Hawai'i not only for a golf tournament. I like coming here as a vacation. We were here on vacation last week. It's been a while since I actually have been to Oahu. I went to the Big Island last year for some work and vacay.

But I think the people are great. It feels a little bit like New Zealand in parts and the food is good, so, yeah, I've loved it more I think throughout -- as I've gotten older.

I met my husband here in Hawai'i so it's become a very special place for us. Yeah, I think there is a lot of cool things. I'm excited to just come here even when I'm much older and not playing anymore, whether it's for golf or for leisure.

MATT JESUS: Speaking of, Jun must have passed the test at Evian. Back on the bag this week. What was the decision to put him on the bag, and anything fun in store for you guys off the course maybe?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, like when I actually won in Kapolei he came and watched me play and I had my first win in three years, so some would say he's a bit of a good luck charm. We had a great result in Evian, and outside of finishing tied seventh we just had a really good time.

And obviously he knows me really well. I struggled a lot on the golf course a couple weeks ago when I was in Korea. It had been a while since I struggled that much with my ball striking. That week it was nice to have one of my coaches, Si Woo, caddie for me because he would give me direct feedback.

It is kind of the same for Jun, right? He's seen me through highs and lows and because of that I think he just knows me. Sometimes if I'm tentative he's the first one to call me out and be like, hey, what was that for? Why did you do that? He just keeps me accountable.

It's nice to have somebody that just knows me so well. It was more just because we thought it would be like a full circle moment. I asked Paul months ago when I already had my schedule and was like, hey, do you mind just because I thought it would be great memories for us.

Five, six years later we're back here at this event. And no matter the result, we're going to have a good week, but I feel really comfortable having him there.

So I feel like a good week coming.

MATT JESUS: Awesome, thank you so much Lydia. Best of luck this week.

LYDIA KO: Thank you.