BOSS Golf Ambassador Lydia Ko talks about her goals for 2026, and her collaboration with the brand.

As we head into 2026, tell us about the state of your game and you feel about your performance last year?

I feel very fresh to start off this year although it was very short turnaround from the last event in 2025. I have worked with different coaches to make sure I can shape and control the (ball) flights I need on the course and it is going great so far. Last year I felt like I was gaining a momentum through the middle of the year, winning the HSBC Women’s Championship in March, but didn’t feel like I had the game I wanted towards the end of the season. So, my goal for 2026 is to stay consistent all year round.

You were the youngest player ever to be No.1 in 2015, and regaining that title in 2022. Is being the best in the world still something important to you?

I’m very grateful that I got to achieve one of my dream goals twice in my career but I think after being inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame, which was another goal, I’m now in a position where I don’t need to prove myself to anyone. I’m just happy to enjoy playing golf and still try to execute some of the goals I have left. You’ve done it all. Be No.1, win three majors, and Olympic gold. What else is there you’d like to achieve? My goal for this year is to win the events that I didn’t win in the past. There are still a couple of tournaments I came short in and that I wanted to win, especially in Asia. Also winning the US Open and KPMG Women’s Open will be the biggest plan on my calendar. Those two are the ones that I had a chance to win in the past but ended up short. They stand out more than any other tournaments. But I wouldn’t do anything different to achieve them as keeping the same routine and rhythm is the key to having a successful week for me. All I can do in advance is to stay healthy and fresh.

You are a New Zealander but also have Korean roots. Are you more one than the other?

I often say New Zealand and Korea are (both) my parents. Korea is like my mother where I was born and New Zealand is another parent where I was raised so nothing can be more than the other. Without the two nations and roots I know I wouldn’t be at this position so I will be forever grateful for this.

How has married life changed you, if at all? How do you balance personal from professional life?

I truly enjoying the married life although we don’t spend tons of time together with my tour life in between. My husband is so supportive of the long tour schedule that we have and we appreciate each other’s business well. This would be the key to have personal and professional life balanced. I try to not compete more than three tournaments in a row. I guess two weeks on the road is pretty much maximum for me. Returning home and get refreshed, spending quality family time then back out again is the routine that I have now.

The LPGA calendar looks to be a very global one with Thailand and Singapore events in the early part of the year. How do you feel about all this travel and playing in different countries?

I love coming back to Thailand and Singapore! It’s good for me as I have more energy in the beginning of the year and (these tournaments ) give me more opportunity to showcase the level of game I want to share. I think it’s the right direction the tour is taking in heading to many different countries to make sure that audiences have a fair chance of watching us. I noticed every continent would have different concepts of marketing sports in general and bringing women’s events in will play a key role to grow the game and inspire so many people in these regions.

I’ve followed you from since you were a teenager and have seen you develop a personal style. How does your collaboration with BOSS Golf fit in with your own fashion sense?

I always had an interest in fashion but never got to really understand and execute on the golf course. BOSS Golf helped me to bring out my personality and fashion at the same time. This makes me confident to show up, which relates to the confidence in my game as well. Their clothes suit my personal style as well. I like to be minimal yet stylish so I’m so happy to work with a brand that represents me in a best way.

What do you enjoy most about this BOSS Golf collaboration?

I love everything about it. Their main concept is ‘Be your own BOSS’ which fits my mind concept as well. BOSS Golf is really trying to understand my game and providing the best possible outfits for my circumstances so I’m very grateful for this partnership we have. Also, I love when they keep the styles chic and modern but also maximizing the technical elements of each piece. It is also very versatile that the outfits can be worn both on and off the golf course and saving me time to get changed, which I love.

Social media is something that is on every professional athlete’s plate these days. What is your relationship with it?

I logged off on all social media during the last Olympic games to make sure I’m mentally fully prepared. I wanted to make sure I’m solely focusing on myself in that way I can understand better and spiritually connected to myself that week. I can say now it worked out great as I won a gold medal at the end. Social media is the easiest way to get to people these days but I have also lived in the era when it wasn’t, so I can say it’s a good partner of mine for sure, but we all need to balance it out efficiently as well.

You’ve played many times in Singapore. What do you enjoy the most about playing here?

I love visiting Singapore but especially in 2025. Winning the HSBC Women’s World Championship was a big highlight of my time in the country. I just love the whole place. It is very easy to drive around, and experiencing a massive, multi-cultural environment is just special. I like the food and hospitality the best. I have tried many Singaporean dishes and they’ve all been great. I really look forward to trying more on my next visit. People here are very generous and look after us so well whenever we are here. Even off the golf course I feel the warmth all around. Singapore has a big heart and I think this makes it one of the main hubs in Asia.