Lydia Ko ... downside of professional golf

[TiScape]

2 hours ago, Duct Tape said:

When other luminaries like @TiScape are involved in the thread, of course.  🏌🏼‍♀️🏸🤓

That’s the nicest thing anyone on here has said about me in a while (even if though it’s tot 🐂 💩)! 
☺️

[JungleJimbo]

 

https://www.lpga.com/news/2024/new-zealands-lydia-ko-is-gold-medalist-lpga-hall-of-famer-at-long-last

 

 

[NosajNeelik]

On 2/22/2024 at 6:21 PM, PlusGolferUk said:

Whatever job you have is evaluated. Would she rather work in McDonalds?

She was asked about her job which is a professional golfer and gave an insight not many have. Do you not understand this? Must everyone that doesn’t have a crappy job just be happy all the time? 

[ElephantTusk]

On 2/16/2024 at 10:07 AM, Rapidcat said:

How is that any different to business If you are in a responsible position with KPI's, budgets, reports etc ad infintum?

 

Every day you are being evaluated and judged with your income and tenure based on your performance.

 

You may be scrutinized by a smaller audience but you are scrutinized nonetheless.

Oh sure sure sure. @Rapidcat constantly getting chirped on internet forums for his lackluster spreadsheet formatting. Last Friday, after a banger of a lunch, I hear he even closed his eyes for a few peaceful minutes to escape the haters.

[NosajNeelik]

8 minutes ago, ElephantTusk said:

Oh sure sure sure. @Rapidcat constantly getting chirped on internet forums for his lackluster spreadsheet formatting. Last Friday, after a banger of a lunch, I hear he even closed his eyes for a few peaceful minutes to escape the haters.

It’s tough trying to win a gold medal AND get in the HOF in accounting 

[3jacker]

Being paid well was not the question. She was asked about the suck.

I've seen these guys trudging around the track, week in and week out.  Except for when you,re in contention, which is rare for the vast majority, it must be mind-numbing to be playing your 35,784th round of golf (pro or otherwise).  I get it.  It's a grind, even when it's not.

[LeoLeo99]

7 hours ago, 3jacker said:

Being paid well was not the question. She was asked about the suck.

I've seen these guys trudging around the track, week in and week out.  Except for when you,re in contention, which is rare for the vast majority, it must be mind-numbing to be playing your 35,784th round of golf (pro or otherwise).  I get it.  It's a grind, even when it's not.

It amazes me what drives the tour pros.  Playing week in and out.  All that traveling.  I'd lose the motivation. Put $20M in my bank account and I'd be back home playing with my buds and the nearby events as long as they'd let me.   

 

Really though, any of these wealthy players could retire tomorrow so they must stay on tour for some reason. They must like it.  The smart ones are like Michelle Wie. Make your money and start chapter 2 of your life.   

[TiScape]

On 2/22/2024 at 3:21 PM, PlusGolferUk said:

Whatever job you have is evaluated. Would she rather work in McDonalds?

Hey now!! What’s wrong with working at McDonalds?! I just made interim assistant shift manager and I’m lovin’ it!! 🙌🏼 

Edited August 15, 2024 by TiScape

[Ironman_32]

15 hours ago, LeoLeo99 said:

It amazes me what drives the tour pros.  Playing week in and out.  All that traveling.  I'd lose the motivation. Put $20M in my bank account and I'd be back home playing with my buds and the nearby events as long as they'd let me.   

 

Really though, any of these wealthy players could retire tomorrow so they must stay on tour for some reason. They must like it.  The smart ones are like Michelle Wie. Make your money and start chapter 2 of your life.   

Big * make your money and marry into a wealthy family and start chapter 2 (i mean good for her). 

 

I think for a lot of players its just one year after the other. Sans for a couple of players, the window to make money isn't that long. Sometimes its injuries, sometimes the game just falls apart. Think about someone like Willy Z or Daniel Berger, probably projected for a long career on tour, but we will see now. Compared to other guys, like a Brian Harmon or Zach Blair or Kevin Kisner, it could evaporate in a short time, so gotta make hay when the sun is shining. 

 

On the other hand, I think there are guys who pulled a "Michelle Wie" and just play occasionally, someone like a Hunter Mahan, they just don't have coverage focused on them. 

[Shilgy]

1 hour ago, Ironman_32 said:

Big * make your money and marry into a wealthy family and start chapter 2 (i mean good for her). 

 

I think for a lot of players its just one year after the other. Sans for a couple of players, the window to make money isn't that long. Sometimes its injuries, sometimes the game just falls apart. Think about someone like Willy Z or Daniel Berger, probably projected for a long career on tour, but we will see now. Compared to other guys, like a Brian Harmon or Zach Blair or Kevin Kisner, it could evaporate in a short time, so gotta make hay when the sun is shining. 

 

On the other hand, I think there are guys who pulled a "Michelle Wie" and just play occasionally, someone like a Hunter Mahan, they just don't have coverage focused on them. 

Something tells me Wie did not need to marry rich.🤔

[Ironman_32]

36 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

Something tells me Wie did not need to marry rich.🤔

I agree, I just think that it made the decision to walk away that much easier

[LeoLeo99]

2 hours ago, Ironman_32 said:

Big * make your money and marry into a wealthy family and start chapter 2 (i mean good for her). 

 

I think for a lot of players its just one year after the other. Sans for a couple of players, the window to make money isn't that long. Sometimes its injuries, sometimes the game just falls apart. Think about someone like Willy Z or Daniel Berger, probably projected for a long career on tour, but we will see now. Compared to other guys, like a Brian Harmon or Zach Blair or Kevin Kisner, it could evaporate in a short time, so gotta make hay when the sun is shining. 

 

On the other hand, I think there are guys who pulled a "Michelle Wie" and just play occasionally, someone like a Hunter Mahan, they just don't have coverage focused on them. 

I'm thinking of Rory McIlroy.  He's worth at least $80M.  Is having his personal life publicized and his missing a 3ft putt analyzed over and over.  Is all the publicity worth the extra $15M he might make from now to the end of his career?  It's a hard way to make millions without working.

 

Michelle made almost $7M on tour plus she had endorsements.  From what I've read, she had a tough childhood.  I hope she's doing what she wants now and is happy.  

[Dutch1008]

1 hour ago, LeoLeo99 said:

I'm thinking of Rory McIlroy.  He's worth at least $80M.  Is having his personal life publicized and his missing a 3ft putt analyzed over and over.  Is all the publicity worth the extra $15M he might make from now to the end of his career?  It's a hard way to make millions without working.

 

Michelle made almost $7M on tour plus she had endorsements.  From what I've read, she had a tough childhood.  I hope she's doing what she wants now and is happy.  

 

Rory is worth closer to $800M than $80M. 

 

For some athletes, it's not about the money. They are addicted to winning, improvement, or even fame. Tom Brady didn't need any money from Tampa Bay. LeBron certainly doesn't need any more. Tiger could have stopped 15 years ago. 

 

It's not just sports. Warren Buffet doesn't need any more money. Investing is simply what drives him out of bed in his 90's. Tom Cruise doesn't need any money, he's still going to jump out of a helicopter or off a mountain for the next Mission Impossible movie. 

 

Healthy people walk away when they have enough but I don't think truly healthy people ever reach the pinnacle. You have to have some underlying motivation, some obsession that keeps you going after all your creature comforts have been fulfilled.   

[NosajNeelik]

7 hours ago, LeoLeo99 said:

I'm thinking of Rory McIlroy.  He's worth at least $80M.  Is having his personal life publicized and his missing a 3ft putt analyzed over and over.  Is all the publicity worth the extra $15M he might make from now to the end of his career?  It's a hard way to make millions without working.

 

Michelle made almost $7M on tour plus she had endorsements.  From what I've read, she had a tough childhood.  I hope she's doing what she wants now and is happy.  

You mean the 50MM he makes EACH YEAR until the end of his career? 
 

Arnold Palmer made 80MM when he was in his 80s 

[Valtiel]

Super happy for her and enjoyed the interview. I'm glad the thread shifted direction too because its distressing and depressing that anyone would go to a negative/critical place about what she said. People in her position are in a bubble of omnipresent pressure from all sides that is extremely difficult to deal with day to day if you care at all about what you do or what people say about you, regardless of what our superficial outside opinions might think to the contrary. The average person melts or jumps off a bridge under that kind of slow burning scrutiny over a decade plus. It takes either some serious mental fortitude or a psychopathic detachment from others to live and perform in positions like that. 

[m d g]

14 hours ago, TiScape said:

Hey now!! What’s wrong with working at McDonalds?! I just made interim assistant shift manager and I’m lovin’ it!! 🙌🏼 

 

Are you sure you're not the assistant to the assistant shift manager?

 

[NosajNeelik]

12 hours ago, LeoLeo99 said:

I'm thinking of Rory McIlroy.  He's worth at least $80M.  Is having his personal life publicized and his missing a 3ft putt analyzed over and over.  Is all the publicity worth the extra $15M he might make from now to the end of his career?  It's a hard way to make millions without working.

 

Michelle made almost $7M on tour plus she had endorsements.  From what I've read, she had a tough childhood.  I hope she's doing what she wants now and is happy.  

Curious where you read she had a “tough childhood”. I’ve never read that anywhere, had a lot of pressure growing up but a lot of that was self inflicted by trying to play men’s golf as a teen?  She had two supportive parents and family and excelled in school. 
 

I mean it’s nothing compared to Pat Perez growing up on the mean streets of La Jolla I’m guessing 

[LeoLeo99]

2 hours ago, NosajNeelik said:

Curious where you read she had a “tough childhood”. I’ve never read that anywhere, had a lot of pressure growing up but a lot of that was self inflicted by trying to play men’s golf as a teen?  She had two supportive parents and family and excelled in school. 
 

I mean it’s nothing compared to Pat Perez growing up on the mean streets of La Jolla I’m guessing 

I heard her parents were very strict and overbearing focused on her golf career. Might have been her parents more than her wanting her to play with the men.

[Ironman_32]

5 hours ago, NosajNeelik said:

Curious where you read she had a “tough childhood”. I’ve never read that anywhere, had a lot of pressure growing up but a lot of that was self inflicted by trying to play men’s golf as a teen?  She had two supportive parents and family and excelled in school. 
 

I mean it’s nothing compared to Pat Perez growing up on the mean streets of La Jolla I’m guessing 

I mean, "tough childhood' as in her parents were overbearing, not like she didn't have food to eat. On one hand, she was ~13 playing in professional events and her parents were trying to just watch out for her, on the other, her dad (i think his name is Bo) can't be discussing swing angles with David Leadbetter, gotta let the coach coach. 

 

I remember playing junior golf and there were parents like that. I remember this one all day camp for high level juniors I helped coach there were parents like that, kid would play/practice all day then their parents would come after work and stand behind them on the range just watching. Ultimately, this kid in particular did play D1 golf, so maybe it worked. 

 

Back to Wie, I think once she got to Stanford and actually met other kids her age she somewhat figured out that life isn't all about golf. Injuries probably didn't help her ether, but I think as golf fans we expect everyone to be a complete golf psycho like Tiger, and maybe that's not the best way to live. 

[bcflyguy1]

On 2/16/2024 at 8:17 AM, ssp said:

Pretty interesting answer ... not one I had thought of before.

 

 

 

 

 

I mean, I can empathize, but this really isn't any different from other professions. You either deliver the goods every day, or your employer will find somebody who does.

 

[TiScape]

12 hours ago, LeoLeo99 said:

I heard her parents were very strict and overbearing focused on her golf career. Might have been her parents more than her wanting her to play with the men.

The Williams sisters holding on line one. 
Professional (and amateur) sports are littered w/parents like this. The fortunate ones (very small percentage) rarely even sniff anything close to her level of success. 

Edited August 16, 2024 by TiScape

[NosajNeelik]

11 hours ago, bcflyguy1 said:

I mean, I can empathize, but this really isn't any different from other professions. You either deliver the goods every day, or your employer will find somebody who does.

 

Except she doesn’t have a boss, it’s really not the same at all. Not sure why people can’t see this. Her job is nothing like a regular lifestyle 9-5 it just isn’t. 

[bcflyguy1]

1 hour ago, NosajNeelik said:

Except she doesn’t have a boss, it’s really not the same at all. Not sure why people can’t see this. Her job is nothing like a regular lifestyle 9-5 it just isn’t. 

You can play yourself off the tour and out of a job. Many such cases. It’s not unique; no need to try to force it.

[NosajNeelik]

21 hours ago, bcflyguy1 said:

You can play yourself off the tour and out of a job. Many such cases. It’s not unique; no need to try to force it.

An elite professional golfer is not a unique job??  Ummm ok 😳🙄

[Rapidcat]

On 8/17/2024 at 12:15 PM, NosajNeelik said:

Except she doesn’t have a boss, it’s really not the same at all. Not sure why people can’t see this. Her job is nothing like a regular lifestyle 9-5 it just isn’t. 

 

9-5 as in 9am to 5pm? No-one in a responsible corporate role works 9am to 5pm, more likely 5am to 9pm. If you have international  responsibilities it can almost be 24/7 at times, particularly with intra-country and international travel (I've had over 1000 business flights, many of them international).

 

Establishing and operating your own business can have just as much time-commitment.

[NosajNeelik]

21 minutes ago, Rapidcat said:

 

9-5 as in 9am to 5pm? No-one in a responsible corporate role works 9am to 5pm, more likely 5am to 9pm. If you have international  responsibilities it can almost be 24/7 at times, particularly with intra-country and international travel (I've had over 1000 business flights, many of them international).

 

Establishing and operating your own business can have just as much time-commitment.

People are saying she should just not complain, smile and be quiet about the downside of being a professional golfer when she was asked a question. People are saying she’s not flipping burgers, no one said anything about a high level corporate job which in itself is a unique job as well. Was more about just be happy you’re not in a 9-5 job which is why my comment. 
 

if someone asked a high C level suite person what the downsides of their job are do you think people would say shut up and be happy you're overpaid compared to people flipping burgers? Or listen to what they said (when asked the question) 

[Rapidcat]

7 minutes ago, NosajNeelik said:

People are saying she should just not complain, smile and be quiet about the downside of being a professional golfer when she was asked a question. People are saying she’s not flipping burgers, no one said anything about a high level corporate job which in itself is a unique job as well. Was more about just be happy you’re not in a 9-5 job which is why my comment. 
 

if someone asked a high C level suite person what the downsides of their job are do you think people would say shut up and be happy you're overpaid compared to people flipping burgers? Or listen to what they said (when asked the question) 

 

Fair enough.

 

I guess I was just equating a highly rewarded sporting career with it's pressure and time commitment to something in the business sector.

[JungleJimbo]

 

Letter to my 15-year-old Self

lpga.com/news/2020/lydia-ko-letter-to-my-15-year-old-self

 

Written By:

Lydia Ko

 

 

Quote

 

Lydia Ko is a two-time major champion and the youngest golfer in history to reach No.1 in any world ranking.

Published: Jul 16, 2020

Topic: lydia-ko Drive On

 

Dear 15-year-old Lydia:

 

So much is about to happen – wonderful things and hard things; things that will create joyful memories and hurtful things that will bring you to tears. You will learn and grow as a person from all of them.

 

The most important piece of advice I could give you is to never take a single day, a single moment for granted. Soak up every experience and embrace every feeling, good and bad, that comes your way. The game you love is a vehicle that allows you to go places, meet people and learn things that others might never know or understand. But you have to slow down and take your eyes off the road every so often or you will miss the scenery.

 

 

You have to pause and appreciate the interactions with your fellow players. When you win your first LPGA event as an amateur in Vancouver, the whirlwind will shock you. You won’t understand or appreciate the significance of the moment. That’s okay. You’re a kid. The most important thing to remember is the encouragement you receive. Stacy Lewis will walk beside you in the final round and say, “You’ve got this. You’re playing well. Now, finish strong.” That moment will take your breath away, not just because Stacy is a fellow competitor, but because she has been the No.1 player in the Rolex Rankings and is an ambassador for the women’s game. For her to take the time to encourage you in the middle of a final round is an example you will remember and aspire to emulate.

 

For a while, winning will seem routine, almost automatic. You will lose track of all the “firsts” and “youngest evers” you set. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s easy. And don’t for a moment believe it will last forever. The truest axiom of golf is this: no matter how you are playing, it will change. One week, one season, one year or two, every shot will seem simple and every putt will look like a tap-in. Then, a week or two later, maybe longer, the shots that used to land exactly where they should will fall just a fraction to the left or right. The putts that seemed to find the center of the hole will veer off by mere centimeters. Don’t panic. The game hasn’t abandoned you. You haven’t forgotten how to play.

Golf is hard. That is why so many fans come out to see it being played well. They understand the hours on the range that it takes to build a solid, repeatable golf swing. They understand the sweat and frustration that goes into thousands of bunker shots. They appreciate the dedication it takes to make 100 6-footers before dinner. And they appreciate the nerve required to hit shots under pressure. 

 

There is good news. Just as quickly as the game can slip away, with hard work and self-belief it can come back. And when it does, you will be stronger and wiser for having traveled the rough road to get there.

 

A few more things you should know: Your golf swing may come and go, but your family and friends, the people who care about you, will love you no matter what you shoot. Trophies are symbols of what you’ve accomplished in the past. Your family and friends represent who and what you can be in the future. Their hugs, their presence, their laughter is life’s greatest victory.

 

Also, you may be young, but you are your own person. The independent streak you feel will only grow as you mature. But independence comes with responsibility. The decisions you make are yours. Others will criticize you and will question those around you, assuming you are being manipulated or led. Those criticisms and accusations will wound you – knives thrown at those close to you always cut deeper than those you field yourself – but they also make you stronger and more appreciative of the people who stand by your side. Just as you are responsible for the shots you hit in competition and the scores you post on your card you are also responsible for the decisions you make that got you there. The advice of others is important. But the decisions are yours. Own them.

 

Reaching world No.1 is exciting and will teach you a lot. But going through change, struggling with your game and wrestling with some of the tough choices you have to make, that is the fertile ground where growth occurs.

 

Finally, young Lydia, that instinct you have to remain approachable and engaging is the right one. The laugh that people can hear from the tennis courts and know that it’s you, that is something you should never change, no matter how self-conscious you sometimes feel. When you recognize a volunteer and want to say ‘hi,’ don’t hesitate. Don’t worry about how it looks. Be yourself, first and always. If you do that, words like “brand” and “image;” “platform” and “presence,” will take care of themselves. 

 

Be you. And be happy. Do that, and everything else is going to be fine.

Comments

Copyright © LPGA 2024. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © LPGA 2024. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

2 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

 

 

Nice anecdote - did he share that last year?

 

Seems a little "more about Kevin" and getting those clicks than about Lydia.