How do you cap a year in which you won an Olympic gold medal and earned your way into the LPGA Hall of Fame? Lydia Ko has the answer. On Monday, the 27-year-old from New Zealand was honored by the government with the title Dame,

Ko, 27, becomes the youngest Zealander to receive the honor. The 2024 season was a fairy tale for young Ko, who won Olympic gold in Paris to become the youngest to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame under its current criteria. Weeks later, she won her third career major at the AIG Women's British Open at St. Andrews.

Hall of Famer Lydia Ko has been made a Dame in the New Year's honors list in New Zealand for her services to golf.

New Zealand has honored golfer Lydia Ko, 27, with one of the country's highest civil honors by making her a Dame for her services to the sport.