Their first encounter was in Rhode Island at the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur. Danielle Kang and Lydia Ko have been inseparable ever since. That’s what makes the bond for Team Sisters from Another Mister so special this week in Midland, Mich. at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.

“I personally love team events,” said Kang, who won back-to-back U.S. Women’s Amateur titles in 2010 and 2011. “Having a sister next to me, best friend, somebody I can rely on, it’s so much more fun to win together and play together. Losing together, making mistakes together, whatever it may be, you don’t feel so alone. Just want her to know I have her back and we can go out there and do the best we can.”

Both Kang and Ko sit inside the top 10 of the 2021 Race to the CME Globe standings. While they have each put together solid seasons so far, they know that their contributions will vary day-to-day.

“Obviously, Danielle has been playing so good. I’m going to ride off the ace in the group,” said Ko, a 16-time LPGA Tour winner. “Especially in alternate shot formats, it’s really important to be comfortable with each other. And best ball, I think it can change a little bit.

“We’ll just have a good time. I have known her for such a long time that I think we’ll just have fun. The chemistry is such an important thing in team play. Hopefully we use that as the 15th club in the bag.”

As they prepare for their first LPGA Tour event as teammates, there are no doubts as to their level of support for one another.

“She’s amazing, a phenom, incredible golfer. The journey she’s had, we have all gone through it with her and it’s incredible to see how far she has come,” said Kang, a five-time LPGA Tour winner. “Even the win in Hawaii, she was crushing it. I know she has my back on and off the golf course, so that’s something I never have to doubt. That will just be something we can rely on.

“She’s the glue right now. We’re both playing solid and it’s golf. I know what her game is like; she knows what my game is like. I always said we have to kind of sacrifice who is going to hit the wedges, long irons and things like that. I always say her golf ball is putting on makeup as it’s going to the hole. Like, putting on foundation as it floats next to the cup. It’s a lot of positive things and we’re going to have lots of fun.”

Danielle Kang The Ace And Lydia Ko The Glue For Team Effort in Midland

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