Lydia Ko played Augusta. Here's what she thought, what she shot and what she ate
Lydia Ko has become known for playing quite a bit of casual golf since getting married to Jun Chung, who has definitely been bitten by the golf bug. The couple played frequently while on their honeymoon in New Zealand. She's even caddied for Chung while he played in a U.S. Am Tour event.
After Ko won her 23rd career title in Singapore earlier this month, the couple went on a golf spree. Ko went to Pebble Beach for an outing with one of her sponsors, and while there, played Cypress Point the next day. They also played Lake Merced, where she's had so much success, there's a plaque with her name on the 18th fairway, and Pasatiempo Golf Club. In all, they played about eight rounds in 10 days.
It was a round back in December, however, that proved especially interesting. That's when Ko and her husband played Augusta National for the first time.
"I had texted Jason Day actually after my first round and I said, this course is so hard," Ko told Golfweek with a laugh. "I'm so glad I'm not playing in that tournament because it would kick my butt."
Ko and her husband played two rounds at Augusta National with another couple. Ko shot 71-70 on her own ball.
"I think because of how sectioned off the greens are, it was really difficult to just get really close to the pins and set up a lot of birdie opportunities," said Ko. "But on the last day, I finished off with a birdie on the 18th, so that was a perfect way to cap off the trip."
Ko, who partnered with Day to win the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational in 2023, said she got to the tee box on every hole at Augusta and had the same reaction: Wow, this is not what I thought it was going to look like.
"I think the elevation and just the shape of the holes. I thought it was just a slight dogleg, but No. 2 was ultra downhill and it kind of swings to the left but the slope goes left to right. I was like, wow, I understand now, and that's like one of the more fairly easier holes for the guys, I think, when they play."
Ko's first visit to Augusta National was back in 2016 when she was on hand to receive the Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year Award. She caddied for Kevin Na in the Par 3 Contest and hit a shot on the ninth hole, stiffing it to 3 feet.
The LPGA Hall of Famer never actually saw anything beyond the range and the Par 3 Course on that trip, though. This, she said, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
When it comes to Augusta National food, Ko said their flight into Atlanta was delayed, and she tried Chick-fil-A for the first time at the airport. She was impressed with the waffle fries and Chick-fil-A Sauce, opting to stay healthy with the grilled nuggets.
When she got to the club, however, she indulged in the fried chicken.
"That was definitely one of the most memorable bits," said Ko, adding, "I'm a sucker for fried chicken and fries."
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