With a dog named 'Awesome' by her side, Jin Young Ko looks to win fourth Founders Cup

Jin Young Ko typically begins each year with a winter training session in a warm place in Asia with a host of other students, including many juniors. But not this year. This time, the former No. 1 decided to bring her parents over to the U.S., along with the family dog, to gear up for 2025 in Florida.

Ko's 9-year-old Maltese named Dae-bak, which translates to "Awesome" in English, captained the fan club at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions wearing a pair of red-rimmed sunglasses. Ko took a share of fourth in her TOC debut. Awesome heads next to the Founders Cup in Bradenton, Florida, where Ko looks to win that title for a fourth time over four different courses.

"I had to stop by Dallas because he has to rest because of the long flight," said Ko of her dog's journey from South Korea. "He has jet lag when we were in Dallas. He's sleeping all day like two days in a row. Then he wakes me up 3 a.m. He was hungry."

Ko, 29, said she often felt like she couldn't take a break at those winter training camps because all eyes were on her. In Florida, she could work at her own pace quietly with her manager and physio on hand to help.

"I realize I'm getting old," she said. "I think I need to take time for myself."

Until 2024, Ko had won on the LPGA every year dating to 2017. A 15-time winner on tour, the two-time major winner's last victory dates to the 2023 Founders Cup in New Jersey. Ko's first Founders Cup victory goes back to 2019 when the event was held in Arizona. She also won the tournament at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey, and then again two years later at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton.

This year's Founders Cup will be held Feb. 6-9 at Bradenton Country Club, site of last year's Drive On Championship, won by the hometown hero, Nelly Korda. Ko didn't compete in last year's event, so this will be her first time playing the Donald Ross design. The Drive On became the Founders Cup after Cognizant dropped its title sponsorship.

While Ko came to the U.S. in early January, she actually got back to work on her game Dec. 1, taking only a week off after the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. She has long been vocal about her desire to get into the LPGA Hall of Fame and needs seven more points to get there.

"I want to win," said Ko. "I like to win. I like to win major, especially."

Several years ago, it looked like Ko and Korda might engage in a back-and-forth rivalry on the LPGA, but injuries from both derailed that storyline. Ko has spent 163 weeks at World No. 1, while Korda sits at 83 weeks and counting.

Now they head to Bradenton with their own unique history at an event that celebrates the LPGA's origins in this 75th anniversary season. Korda, who finished runner-up to A Lim Kim last week, matched Ko's Sunday effort of 65 at Lake Nona. They both walked off the course feeling good about what's to come.

"This is what I love about golf," said Korda, "being in the hunt on a Sunday, going down the back nine."

Ko called her tee-to-green efforts last week "perfect," but noted that she has 23 events left to go in 2025. Now in her eighth season on the LPGA, Ko hasn't played more than 19 events since 2019.

"I'm still hungry," she said of a season that could hit all the right notes.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jin Young Ko aims for fourth Founders Cup with her dog as support