Mental Battles Exposed: Lydia Ko Admits Slumps Made Her Question Everything – “I Thought About Retiring Early!”

Lydia Ko, the LPGA legend and recent Hall of Famer, has been refreshingly honest about the profound mental toll her career slumps have taken, revealing that prolonged struggles led her to seriously contemplate walking away from professional golf much earlier than planned.

The 28-year-old New Zealander, who has dominated headlines with her prodigious early success—including becoming the youngest LPGA winner at 15, reaching world No. 1 at 17, and clinching multiple majors—faced significant dips in form that tested her resolve. In a candid exclusive interview with Golf Monthly published in January 2025, Ko opened up about how her poor performance in 2023 “made me question my place in the game a bit.” She described a particularly tough stretch in the first half of 2024, where she struggled from April to June, prompting deeper doubts.

“It wasn’t exactly rock bottom, but I did start to wonder whether my ‘comeback’ year in 2022—when I won three times and made it back to World No. 1—was just a fluke,” Ko shared. Those early 2024 performances had briefly reignited confidence, but the subsequent flat spot reignited self-doubt. She admitted the periods of inconsistency pushed her to question everything about her game, identity, and future in golf, even leading to thoughts of retiring prematurely.

Ko has long spoken about her pre-planned retirement timeline—aiming to step away before turning 30 to exit while still playing well and pursue other interests—but the slumps amplified those considerations. In reflections around her 2024 resurgence, which included Olympic gold in Paris and the AIG Women’s Open victory at St. Andrews (securing her Hall of Fame induction), she highlighted how battling through mental lows became one of her proudest achievements. Sources close to her journey, including interviews and features, note that the pressure of early fame, constant expectations, and the grind of the tour contributed to emotional exhaustion at times.

Despite these dark moments, Ko credited key support systems—family, her mental coach, and even her dog Kai—for helping her regain perspective and rebuild. She emphasized prioritizing mental health, using tools like clear mindset strategies to separate self-worth from results. Her turnaround in late 2024 and into 2025 demonstrated resilience, turning what could have been an early exit into renewed motivation, including chasing a career Grand Slam (needing the U.S. Women’s Open and Women’s PGA Championship).

Ko’s vulnerability serves as a powerful reminder of the hidden battles elite athletes face. While she remains firm on her long-term retirement vision—often citing idol Lorena Ochoa’s graceful exit—she has shown that questioning everything during slumps doesn’t signal the end; it can fuel a stronger, more mature return. As she enters 2026 in solid form, her story underscores that humility, support, and mental fortitude are as crucial as any swing change in sustaining a legendary career.