Jinyoung Ko, give up the 1st place to a 19-year-old rookie teaman
Prolonged undefeated streak without outstanding rookie appearances
Seeking a rebound at the Toto Japan Classic held on the 3rd
▲ Jinyoung Ko
North Carolina USA Today Yonhap News
The recession of Korean women’s golf, which once ruled the world, is prolonging. Signboard Jin-young Ko, 27, gave her world No. 1 spot in nine months, and is her 13th draw on the US Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour. Overall, her grades aren’t bad, but she’s losing her world-class side as she doesn’t have any outstanding rookies.
In the world ranking of October 31 announced on the 1st (Korea time), Jin-young Ko recorded a ranking point of 7.09 points, falling behind Ataya Titikun (Thailand, 7.13 points) by 0.04 points, and was pushed to second place. It’s only been nine months since she regained world number one in her ranking, as of January 31, regarding three months following she pushed out Nelly Corda (USA).
Jinyoung Ko has not won the HSBC Women’s World Championship since March. She recently missed two months due to a wrist injury before returning to the LPGA Tour BMW Ladies Championship last month in Wonju, Gangwon Province. However, he withdrew following finishing at the bottom of the 78 players by hitting a 15-over-par 159 for two days.
Born in February 2003, 19-year-old Titikun became the second youngest player to reach the world No. There are only two players who have reached number one in the world at the age of 20.
▲ Ataya Titikun
Provided by BMW Korea
The names of Korean players who swept the top rankings in the past are also disappearing from the top of the board. ‘Major Hunter’ Jeon In-ji (28) maintained 8th place, but Kim Hyo-joo (27) was pushed one step down to 10th. Kim Se-young (29) is 13th, Park Min-ji (24) is 17th, Choi Hye-jin (23) is 19th, and Park In-bi (34) is 23rd. The LPGA Tour draw streak of Korean players is also getting longer. The last time a Korean player won the LPGA this season was Jeon In-ji at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a major event in late June. This is the first time in over 8 years that a Korean player has not won more than 10 consecutive LPGA Tour championships since October 2013 to June 2014, following 17 consecutive tournaments.
▲ Hyejin Choi in the first round of the Dana Open held at Highland Meadows Golf Club (par 71, 6598 yards) in Sylvania, Ohio, USA on the 2nd (Korea time). Choi Hye-jin cut out 6 birdies without bogey that day and shot a 6-under 65, taking the lead with Carlotta Shiganda (Spain) and Yin Luning (China).
Ohio AP Yonhap News
Korean players are preparing to break the draw at the Toto Japan Classic ($2 million total prize money) held at Theta Golf Course (par 72, 6616 yards) in Shiga, Japan for four days from the 3rd. A total of 10 Korean players will participate, including 5 from the LPGA Tour and 5 from the Japanese Women’s Professional Golf (JLPGA) Tour.
On the LPGA Tour, Hyejin Choi (23), Jeongeun Lee (26), Anna Lin (26), Jieun Shin (30), Woonjeong Choi (32), and JLPGA Tour players Jiae Shin (34), Bae Seonwoo (28), and Lee Minyoung (30) ), Jeon Mi-jung (40), and Hwang Ah-reum (35) are aiming for a rebound.
By Kim Dong-hyun
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