LPGA Tour star Lydia Ko congratulates chef friend with a heartfelt message on Instagram following the launch of a new Korean restaurant in San Francisco. The golfer visited SOHN in the Dogpatch district, celebrating her friend Deuki Hong’s role in opening the restaurant.
Lydia Ko Visits Deuki Hong’s New Korean Restaurant in San Francisco
Lydia Ko, a 23-time LPGA Tour winner, shared a post featuring a photo of SOHN’s chef, Deuki Hong, whom she counts as a close friend. In her caption, Ko expressed her congratulations warmly, highlighting the significance of the restaurant’s grand opening in the vibrant Dogpatch neighborhood. She further posted images showing guests enjoying the event, interacting, and sampling the food offered at SOHN.
Reflecting on Olympic Glory Before Celebrating the Restaurant Opening
Just hours before her posts about SOHN, Ko reflected on her recent triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She secured the gold medal in the women’s individual golf event, completing an impressive Olympic medal collection that includes a silver from 2016 and a bronze from 2020. Her winning score was 10-under 278, finishing two strokes ahead of silver medalist Esther Henseleit. Lin Xiyu took the bronze with a score of 7-under.
Ko’s Olympic post captured her joy and emotion, with images of her smiling and waving to the crowd, and another showing her overwhelmed with emotion after sinking the decisive putt. This victory marked a milestone in her career, reaffirming her place among the sport’s elite.
Gratitude Toward Fans After Challenging Performance at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open
Following her Olympic success, Lydia Ko faced a tougher challenge at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl. She hoped to defend her title but finished in a tie for 36th place. Despite making the cut, Ko struggled during the final round, recording several bogeys and a double bogey, culminating in a 3-over 291 total after four rounds.
She acknowledged the difficulty of the event but expressed sincere appreciation to her fans for their continued support through an uplifting Instagram message. Ko’s strong beginning to the tournament was followed by a tougher back nine in the final round, allowing Miyu Yamashita to claim the title with a commanding 11-under 277 score, 14 strokes ahead of Ko.
Impact of Lydia Ko’s Supportive Gesture and Career Outlook
Lydia Ko’s gesture of congratulating her friend Deuki Hong highlights her personal connections beyond the golf course and her appreciation for milestones in others’ lives. Her visit to SOHN not only celebrated the cultural and culinary achievements of her friend but also strengthened her presence in San Francisco’s social scene. Meanwhile, her recent performance trajectory, from Olympic gold to a challenging title defense, reflects the dynamic nature of a professional athlete’s career and the resilience required to maintain success on the LPGA Tour.
As Ko continues to balance competitive goals with personal milestones, her fans will likely follow both her sporting journey and her meaningful engagements off the course. The support and recognition she extends to those around her underline her thoughtful and reflective character in the world of professional golf.
“Chef Deuki, proud of you!” —Lydia Ko
“Thank you all for the constant support! Every message and cheer means a lot to me.” —Lydia Ko