World No. 3 confirms intent to play despite tingling sensation caused by early-week neck spasm
Lydia Ko, currently ranked third in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, is managing physical discomfort in her right arm just days before the opening round of the Chevron Championship, the first major of the 2025 LPGA season.
Ko said the issue began earlier this week after waking up with a neck spasm, which has since led to a tingling sensation that she continues to feel during her swing.
Despite the setback, Ko has confirmed her intention to compete, stating that while her swing is affected, she is optimistic about managing the issue.
“It was playable but I could feel it at the top of my backswing and my finish,” Ko told reporters. “My coach was like, ‘Oh, you kind of finish like Mr. [Arnold] Palmer.’ I was like, well that’s good news – of all the people, I would love to be like Mr. Palmer.”
The 23-time LPGA Tour winner also said she’s been undergoing regular treatment:
“I’ve been getting a lot of treatment on it,” she told Golfweek after Tuesday’s nine-hole pro-am. “It’s better than yesterday but still doesn’t feel like my normal arm.”
Ko, who turns 28 on Thursday, has 23 LPGA Tour victories and is already a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame. She won this major, then known as the ANA Inspiration, in 2016 at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California.
The 2025 edition of the Chevron Championship will be held for the second consecutive year at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas. Ko is among the pre-tournament favorites in a field that includes Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu but is missing top contender Rose Zhang, who withdrew earlier in the week due to a neck injury.
Ko is scheduled to begin her opening round on Thursday, barring any changes to her condition. While the injury may limit her range of motion slightly, she remains optimistic about her ability to compete effectively.
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