This is Jin Young Ko’s 158th week as No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings. The run has not been consecutive, as this year Ko and Nelly Korda each have spent time at No. 1. Korda, in fact, was No. 1 after the recent Cognizant Founders Cup, with Ko re-taking the top spot after her tie for 13th at the Mizuho Americas Open.
Ko’s 158 weeks at No. 1 ties Mexico great Lorena Ochoa’s time spent atop the rankings, which began in 2006. Ochoa retired at the age of 28 to start a family, leaving the game with 27 LPGA titles. At 27, Ko already has 15 LPGA victories, among them two majors.
“It's an honor, people saying with Lorena and me in same sentence,” Ko said on Wednesday. “It makes me happy, but also it makes me humble. It's great to honor, to stand with Lorena.”
Several players were asked to name the best player in the women’s game earlier this week at Baltusrol. For a majority of those asked, the answer was Ko.
Said Korda, who is returning this week after resting a troublesome back, “I think Jin Young Ko, she's won twice this year, right? So if you're just going off statistics, I would say Jin Young.”
When Ko was asked, she politely sidestepped the question.
“Everyone. I can’t say one,” she smiled.
