Jin Young Ko set to become world number one again following Ladies Championship win

Jin Young Ko is set to reclaim the world number-one ranking in women’s golf after producing a blistering finish to win the LPGA Tour’s Ladies Championship in South Korea in a playoff.

Ko shot a final-round 8-under-par 64, before she birdied the first playoff hole to defeat fellow South Korean Hee Jeong Lim in Busan on Sunday.

Ko’s 11th career LPGA Tour victory is projected to take her past American Nelly Korda into top spot on the world rankings.

Ko was previously number one from July 20, 2019 to June 27, 2021 — a streak of 100 consecutive weeks — and was also the world’s top-ranked player for 12 weeks in early 2019.

Heading into the final 18 holes, Lim led by four strokes but Ko’s flawless eight-birdie round allowed her to match her countrywoman at 22-under for the tournament.

Lim shot a 4-under 68 in the final round.

Four players were tied for third — four strokes behind Ko and Lim — including New Zealand’s Lydia Ko.

Australia’s Minjee Lee was near the leaders midway through tournament, but faded and finished with a final-round 71.

Lee was tied for 12th place on 13-under, nine shots outside the playoff.

Her countrywoman Hannah Green was five shots further back in 29th position.

Going into the tournament, Ko had 14 straight rounds in the 60s, tying her with Annika Sorenstam (2005) and So Yeon Ryu (2015-17) for the most in tour history.

But Ko finished with a 1-under 71 in Thursday’s opening round to end the streak.

AP