SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – With the Rings tattooed on her right bicep and a big smile spread across her face, two-time Olympic medalist Lydia Ko of New Zealand posed for a few photos upon her arrival at Le Golf National today.

It’s rare for golfers to arrive on-site at an event prior to Monday of tournament week, but Ko was excited to embrace the Olympic spirit and cheer on some of her fellow Kiwis in the final round of the men’s Olympic golf competition on Sunday.

“Saturday vibes and Sunday vibes – we all know it’s a little different, but it's just great to see so many people out here,” said Ko on Saturday afternoon. “It was great to see Foxy (Ryan Fox) finish up and see Dan (Hillier) earlier today as well. I think it's like a slow way into welcoming myself into the Games. This doesn't happen every day.”

At just 27 years old, Ko has already put together a resume envied by most professionals – including 20 career LPGA victories and 107 top 10s – and she’s one win shy of earning automatic entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame. A win at Le Golf National would do the trick.

A win in Paris would also give her a complete set of Olympic medals: Ko won a silver medal at Rio 2016, finishing five strokes behind Korea’s Inbee Park, and she captured bronze in Tokyo 2020, posting a 6-under final round to climb onto the podium with Nelly Korda and Mone Inami , who won gold and silver, respectively. Ko knows what she’s missing, but she’s still grateful for what the Olympic journey has looked like along the way.

“It happens, you know, every four years,” she said “To play my third Olympics is definitely cool. Time has gone by really quick to think that I'm playing in my third.”

For tonight, Ko will join Team New Zealand teammates Fox and Hillier on the eve of their final round for dinner at a Korean restaurant in Versailles to catch up with her countrymen and get a few tips on the course. She’s also well aware of the pressure and atmosphere that’s been building and will continue to grow until the women’s competition begins on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. local time.

“It's honestly really cool,” she added. “We don't really get this kind of a big turnout week-in, week-out. I think they said 30,000 today, which is like crazy, but when you're in one spot, you don't think there's that many people, but you look around and there's people everywhere.

“They are here for one reason, and it is to probably support their countrymen and see the biggest sporting event. And hopefully all of us players, whether it's the men or the women, can put on a good show for them and make their ticket worth it.”

So, while she’s already standing above her peers as the only two-time medalist in the history of Olympic golf, Ko hopes to take one more step up the podium next Saturday and finish off her Olympic trifecta.