Jin Young Ko Becomes No. 1 in Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., April 8, 2019 – Following her first major victory at the 2019 ANA Inspiration on Sunday, Jin Young Ko has ascended to No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Her three-stroke win at Mission Hills Golf Club vaulted her from fifth to the top of the standings.

"Reaching World No. 1 is exciting and I cannot believe that I have achieved this honor," said Ko. "I always keep my focus on the golf course and on my playing, but to win a major championship and be called the best player in the world is absolutely a great honor. I want to thank my family, my caddie and my manager for all of their support."

Ko is the fifth player from the Republic of Korea to reach World No. 1, following Inbee Park, Sung Hyun Park, So Yeon Ryu and Jiyai Shin. She is the third player to hold the title of World No. 1 in 2019, joining Ariya Jutanugarn and Sung Hyun Park, who was No. 1 for the previous five weeks.

So far during the 2019 LPGA Tour season, Ko has earned two victories and three other top-three results, with four of those finishes coming in her last four events. After opening her year with a runner-up spot at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, she tied for third two weeks later at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.

Her performance over the Tour’s recent Western Swing cemented Ko’s place at the top of the Rolex Rankings. She won the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in Phoenix, Ariz., and the following week tied for second at the Kia Classic in Carlsbad, Calif. Her victory on the famed Dinah Shore Tournament Course in Rancho Mirage, Calif., lifted Ko to the pinnacle of female professional golf.

Through the season’s first eight events, Ko leads the Tour in total earnings with $1,002,273. She also sits atop the standings for Rolex Player of the Year honors (123 points) and in the Race to the CME Globe (1,957 points).

Ko became a Rolex First-Time Winner when she captured the 2018 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in her first event as an LPGA Member. With that victory, she become just the second player in LPGA history to win on her Membership debut, joining Beverly Hanson (1951 Eastern Open). That win was one of Ko’s 13 top-10 finishes in 2018, a spectacular rookie season that saw her clinch Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honors with four events remaining.

While her victory in Australia was Ko’s first as a Member, she had already visited the winner’s circle at the 2017 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship. That breakthrough win earned her LPGA Membership for the 2018 season.

Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Ko was a member of the KLPGA Tour, where she has 10 career victories. As a KLPGA member, she finished second at the 2015 Ricoh Women's British Open.

History of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings Number One Position

#	Player	Age (Y/M/D)	From:	To:	No. Weeks
29	Jin Young Ko	23/9/1	April 8, 2019	Present	1
28	Sung Hyun Park (3)	25/5/13	March 4, 2019	April 7, 2019	5
27	Ariya Jutanugarn (3)	22/11/6	October 29, 2018	March 3, 2019	18
26	Sung Hyun Park (2)	24/10/29	August 20, 2018	October 28, 2018	10
25	Ariya Jutanugarn (2)	22/8/7	July 30, 2018	August 19, 2018	3
24	Inbee Park (4)	29/9/11	April 23, 2018	July 29, 2018	14
23	Shanshan Feng	28/3/8	Nov. 13, 2017	April 22, 2018	23
22	Sung Hyun Park	24/1/15	Nov. 6, 2017	Nov. 12, 2017	1
21	So Yeon Ryu	26/11/28	June 26, 2017	Nov. 5, 2017	19
20	Ariya Jutanugarn	21/6/20	June 12, 2017	June 25, 2017	2
19	Lydia Ko (2)	18/6/2	October 26, 2015	June 11, 2017	85
18	Inbee Park (3)	26/11/3	June 15, 2015	October 25, 2015	19
17	Lydia Ko (1)	17/9/9	February 2, 2015	June 14, 2015	19
16	Inbee Park (2)	26/3/15	October 27, 2014	February 1, 2015	14
15	Stacy Lewis (2)	29/3/17	June 2, 2014	October 26, 2014	21
14	Inbee Park (1)	24/9/3	April 15, 2013	June 1, 2014	59
13	Stacy Lewis (1)	28/1/2	March 18, 2013	April 14, 2013	4
12	Yani Tseng	22/0/22	February 14, 2011	March 17, 2013	109
11	Jiyai Shin (3)	22/6/4	November 1, 2010	February 13, 2011	15
10	Cristie Kerr (3)	33/0/13	October 25, 2010	October 31, 2010	1
9	Ai Miyazato (3)	25/2/4	August 23, 2010	October 24, 2010	9
8	Cristie Kerr (2)	32/10/4	August 16, 2010	August 22, 2010	1
7	Jiyai Shin (2)	22/2/28	July 26, 2010	August 15, 2010	3
6	Ai Miyazato (2)	25/1/0	July 19, 2010	July 25, 2010	1
5	Cristie Kerr (1)	32/8/16	June 28, 2010	July 18, 2010	3
4	Ai Miyazato (1)	25/0/2	June 21, 2010	June 27, 2010	1
3	Jiyai Shin (1)	22/0/5	May 3, 2010	June 20, 2010	7
2	Lorena Ochoa	25/5/8	April 23, 2007	May 2, 2010	158
1	Annika Sorenstam	35/4/11	February 20, 2006	April 22, 2007	61

Career weeks at Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings Number One Position

Lorena Ochoa	158 weeks
Yani Tseng	109 weeks
Inbee Park	106 weeks
Lydia Ko	104 weeks
Annika Sorenstam	61 weeks
Stacy Lewis	25 weeks
Jiyai Shin	25 weeks
Ariya Jutanugarn	23 weeks
Shanshan Feng	23 weeks
So Yeon Ryu	19 weeks
Sung Hyun Park	16 weeks
Ai Miyazato	11 weeks
Cristie Kerr	5 weeks
Jin Young Ko	1 week

About the LPGA

The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla., the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing more than 30 countries. With a vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while the Symetra Tour, the official qualifying tour of the LPGA, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. Additionally, LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management.

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