It’s just been over a day since the gut-wrenching semifinal loss for Team World at the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown. But that doesn’t dull Lydia Ko’s shine one bit. The Kiwi golfer is back in the spotlight, not for another win or loss, but for her new cover feature on Golf Digest Korea’s November issue. Lydia Ko lit up Instagram a few hours ago with a radiant post on Instagram.

“Excited to be on the cover of @golfdigest_korea November issue! Thank you for the great opportunity 💛,” she wrote, delightfully. The timing of this celebratory post shows that Ko is so much more than golf.

Only a few days ago, she and her Team World went through a rollercoaster of emotions at the 2025 International Crown in Goyang-si. The event, which ran from October 23–26 at the New Korea Country Club, saw eight teams, including top golfers from the USA, Korea, Japan, and Australia, battling for the title in a rare global team showdown.

Lydia Ko led the international lineup of Brooke Henderson, Charley Hull, and Wei-Ling Hsu, representing New Zealand, Canada, England, and Taiwan, respectively, and in unity as Team World. This was the team’s debut in this event, and unfortunately, their journey ended one step short of the final, as they finished in third place.

Despite having strong performances in the first few rounds, Ko and her team lost to Team Australia in a tense semifinal that spanned over 20 holes. While the initial rounds consist of only four-ball better-ball match play, the semi-finals and finals are played in a mix of two singles matches and one alternate-shot foursomes game.

While Charley Hull & Brooke Henderson were chosen for the singles match, Ko and Wei-Ling Hsu fought hard in their alternate-shot match, only to lose 1 down to Australia. Charley Hull was the lone victor for Team World, defeating Australia’s Hannah Green 2 & 1, while Henderson’s debut ended in heartbreak against Minjee Lee.

Ultimately, Team Australia took home the title, defeating Team USA in the finals, which had one of their most important players, Nelly Korda, missing from the action.

“I said it would be pretty cool, the World Team, it’s our inaugural time playing this championship, and it would be pretty cool for us to win,” said Ko. “Obviously, we didn’t get that done, but yeah, it’s great to be involved with this event, I think… and I had a blast.”

And now, with her new magazine cover, Lydia Ko seems to have found a way to deal with the loss. Even earlier this year, she graced the cover of Vogue Korea, joking that she “never thought she’d ever be on a fashion magazine.”

Even in heartbreak, Lydia Ko keeps the spotlight exactly where it belongs, right on her, and she had cheers not just from her fans but even from her teammate, Charley Hull.

Fans in awe of Lydia Ko’s latest magazine cover

Fans and fellow players poured in with love and admiration for Lydia Ko as soon as her post went up, proving that her charm reaches far beyond the fairways. Among the first to respond was her teammate and close friend Charley Hull, who dropped a simple yet telling “😍🙌”, the kind of reaction that speaks volumes without a single word.

Others followed suit, with several fans flooding the post with heartfelt praise. “Love it❤️❤️” one fan quipped simply, while another added, “Prettttty!!😍”. Another fan summed up what many were thinking — “Simply the best & the G.O.A.T. 🔥🔥👏👏😍😍♥️♥️.” It was clear that Ko’s cover moment had struck a chord, not just as a celebration of her success as a golfer, but as recognition of her humility and grace in the wake of a tough week.

There was one comment that stood out among the many. “Most unbelievable golfer I have ever seen, an even more unbelievable person, and amazingly beautiful! This young lady has it all!!! 🙌👏🔥😮❤️.” And she sure does. Not only does she have an impressive resume of three gold medals and 23 LPGA Tour titles, which earned her a spot in the Hall of Fame, but she is also an incredible person.

Another fan wrote, “You deserve it because you’ve earned it!” claiming that her being on the cover isn’t just a product of fame or market appeal. It’s instead a reflection of years of consistency, perseverance, and quiet excellence. Whether it’s on the greens or on the front page of magazines, Lydia Ko has earned every bit of admiration that comes her way.