Lydia Ko hits a tee shot on Saturday at Le Golf Nationwide.
Getty Pictures
The scorecard signature may wait.
Others wanted to be written first.
Over the earlier 5 hours, it had been some afternoon at Le Golf Nationwide for Lydia Ko. She began the ultimate spherical of the Olympic match tied for the lead. She surged forward. She held on. She received by two, and with it, she locked up LPGA Corridor of Fame standing and secured medals in all three Video games since their return in 2016.
Now, although, Ko needed to provide again, to thank the devoted, and thru a easy gesture — the signing of her identify — she tried.
For quite a lot of minutes.
Strolling off the 18th inexperienced, the place she had simply hugged taking part in companions Rose Zhang and Morgane Metraux, their caddies and hers, Ko gave a ball to a typical bearer, then signed one for an official, then signed one for an additional official — then signed one other one and underhand-tossed it to the gallery.
From there, Ko began to stroll up the trail that led to the scoring tent, the place a scorecard wanted to be signed — solely to cease for the followers to the left of the walkway. There, she signed seven hats, earlier than taking one lengthy step to her left and signing eight hats, a flag, a shirt and a ball.
Mentioned analyst Morgan Pressel on the Golf Channel broadcast: “Not solely is she a beautiful golfer and an incredible champion, she’s a beautiful particular person as effectively. You may see that emotion.”
Mentioned Pressel after a pause: “She higher recover from and signal that scorecard.”
Mentioned announcer Steve Sands: “She’ll be signing these hats all day lengthy if she doesn’t.”
She moved on, up the trail, the place she signed a shirt for a boy and a shirt for an additional official, earlier than stopping to hug her sister, Sura. She then signed extra, for the oldsters to the precise of the trail. 5 extra hats. Then Sura came visiting, whispering what seemingly was steering to move to scoring.
Ko did, then stopped for a pair extra followers.
Lydia Ko clinches gold medal, LPGA Corridor of Fame in dramatic Olympic end
Afterward, Zhang was requested in regards to the latest gold medalist. What did they discuss strolling up 18? Zhang obtained reflective. She mentioned Ko has been a mentor to her. She mentioned that when she turned professional a 12 months in the past, Ko made her really feel comfy. She mentioned that Ko was cheering her on on Saturday. On 18, she visibly tried to will in Zhang’s eagle putt that simply brushed previous the outlet.
A reporter then requested Zhang in regards to the fan interplay. Was this completely different?
“For Lydia, you imply? Lydia has at all times been like that,” Zhang mentioned. “She’s at all times such a individuals particular person. I really feel like possibly immediately she loved it much more. She actually simply took all of it in and she or he hit some unimaginable photographs simply all through the day.
“So kudos to her.”
