On her 27th birthday, Lydia Ko proved once again why she’s one of golf’s toughest competitors. Playing through a painful arm injury, the New Zealand superstar delivered a gritty performance at the Chevron Championship — the LPGA’s first major of the year.
It wasn’t the birthday she likely imagined, but Ko’s courage and composure stole the spotlight. Despite clear discomfort and limited range of motion in her right arm, she managed a respectable score and stayed in the mix on a demanding course at The Club at Carlton Woods.
“It’s not how I wanted to feel physically,” she shared after her round, “but it’s a major — you give it everything, no matter what.”
There were no birthday balloons, but there was plenty of fight. From smart shot selection to calm scrambling, Ko displayed a masterclass in perseverance — showing fans that nothing, not even injury, could hold her back on the day she turned 27.
As the weekend looms and the Chevron Championship intensifies, Lydia Ko’s bravery under pressure may just inspire a comeback story for the ages.