LPGA golfer LYDIA KO has had the summer of all summers when it comes to golf, winning an Olympic gold medal, a major championship at the home of golf and achieving LPGA HOF status all within a three-week span.
But Ko, 27, has never shied away from the fact that she likely won’t slog through a 30-year career on tour. With three of the five majors now in her back pocket, Ko says it’s a goal to achieve the career grand slam, but also admitted her post-playing career plans have been on her mind.
“It’s something I said I wanted to know which direction I wanted to head before I retired,” Ko told SBJ yesterday “I don’t want to retire and wonder what’s next.”
Ko early this year signed on with Excel Sports Management , and more specifically KEVIN HOPKINS , who runs ESM’s women’s golf division. Hopkins also manages MICHELLE WIE WEST , a big-time name who retired at 32 and has since gotten into broadcasting as well as tournament hosting with the Mizuho Americas Open on the LPGA.
TREVOR IMMELMAN , the Masters champion from 2008 who has retired from full-time competition and now is CBS’ lead PGA Tour analyst, also is under Hopkins.
Ko wouldn’t divulge specific post-retirement plans aside from wanting to continue her education (she turned pro at 16), and saying broadcasting likely wasn’t in her future: “I’m not sure broadcasting is the route I want to go with.”
“When I do retire, I don’t think I’ll go completely MIA,” Ko said. “I’ll probably be involved in golf in some way. It’s a discussion that our whole team needs to have a bit more of.”
