"The thing I told myself walking down the 18th was, 'I'm so proud of myself.' And I never say that to me," Ko said. "I think it's quite embarrassing to say that because it feels a little bit narcissistic. But I was really proud for overcoming my own doubts. It doesn't matter what the media says about me or what some spectator says.
"The scariest one is what goes in between your ears. And it's the hardest one to clear out."
This had nothing to do with her gold medal performance, a dream week in Paris because the victory gave her the final point she needed for the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Ko had such a rough time in 2023 that self-doubts became greater than ever.
She considers 2022 among her best years, with three wins and finishing the year at No. 1 in the world and getting married. And the 27-year-old Kiwi felt 2023 was among her worst, when she failed to reach the season-ending Tour Championship.
"It's crazy, but that's what golf can do to you," Ko said. "It's much more of a roller coaster than any other sport. Not many elite athletes in other sports go from their highest to their lowest unless there's injuries involved. I was very healthy during my worst golf."
She was speaking in Orlando on Monday to promote the season-opening Tournament of Champions where her victory a year go sent her toward a year she won't forget. She's had more productive seasons, but Olympic gold and winning the British Open at St Andrews are tough to top.
The turnaround started by teaming with Jason Day to win the mixed Invitational at Naples, Florida, an indication she was headed in the right direction. Winning alone at Lake Nona the following month to start the new season was even better. But she said it was a lot to overcome.
"Last year I had a conversation with my sister after missing my billionth cut at the Portland Classic," she said with a laugh. "I remember I was having Texas barbecue and crying so much I wasn't sure what this barbecue tasted like. I had no idea if I was going to win again. I had lost my complete sense of direction. And it sucks.
"I'm so proud of overcoming my own doubts and my own fears and peaking at the pinnacle moments of my 11 years," she said. "That's what I'm always going to remember. Even next year, or whatever lies ahead, if I do have spells where things don't go my way, I know now for sure that no matter how low it gets, I can overcome that."
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