12 Sep 2023

Ko drops in rankings

6:56 am on 12 September 2023
LPGA player Lydia Ko of New Zealand.

LPGA player Lydia Ko of New Zealand. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Lydia Ko has dropped two places to ninth in the latest world women's golf rankings.

The 26 year old New Zealander has had her struggles this year missing four cuts.

Her best result on the LPGA Tour this year was a tie for sixth in Thailand in February when she was world number one.

Meanwhile China's Ruoning Yin is the new number one.

The 20-year-old Yin is the 18th different player to reach the top spot and the fifth this year, a record.

She is the second Chinese player to reach number one since the rankings began in 2006, joining Shanshan Feng (2017-18).

Yin is also the third player aged 20 or younger to hit number one, joining Atthaya Thitikul (2022) and Lydia Ko (2015).

Yin climbed from No. 2 to No. 1 after her solo third-place finish at the Kroger Queen City Championship on Sunday.

Yin became a first-time winner on the LPGA Tour at the LA Open in March, then captured her first major title at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June.

The other four players to reach No. 1 in 2023 were Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Jin Young Ko and Lydia Ko.

Lilia Vu is number two in the rankings with fellow American Nelly Korda third.

-RNZ/Reuters