The 27-year-old sportswoman saw a resurgence in form that led to a successful 2024, including winning gold at the Paris Olympics but she still didn’t expect to be recognised by the greats of the game.

Asked which accolade in 2024 meant most to her, she told Golf Monthly magazine: “Being inducted into the Hall of Fame was definitely the biggest one.

“A while back I was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen, and I still have to pinch myself at the way all the puzzle pieces came together in Paris.

“I thought the odds of me winning there were pretty small.

“So to have won gold, knowing it would be my last Olympics, made it so emotional for me. I honestly felt like Cinderella walking with my glass slippers.

“And it just got better when we held the Rolex Awards at the end of last year, and Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez came onto the stage unexpectedly to welcome me to the Hall of Fame.

“I told myself I wouldn’t cry at those awards but that was a promise I couldn’t keep after that happened. I had to hide my tears behind the bouquet of flowers they gave me.

“To think that I’m in that prestigious club with them, it’s honestly hard to wrap my head around that. But they have always been so supportive and I really appreciate that.”

While Lydia doesn’t see herself playing after the age of 30, she still has ambitions.

She said: “This year my thoughts have turned to the possibility of completing the career Grand Slam. It’s good to have goals.

“The Grand Slam seems really far out there, but what has happened the past few years has been on a similar level of craziness I guess.

“I would love a chance of winning all five different Majors.

“For me, that would be the continuation of the fairytale. So why not try for another happy ending?

“It’s a small circle who have done the career Grand Slam, especially in this day and age, when the competition is so high.

“But that is my goal, something to aim at.

“If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t define my career but that is the biggest thing I’m working on.”