Ko unfazed by rankings race

STRUGGLING world No. 1 Lydia Ko (pix) said yesterday she is unfazed by the prospect of being deposed from top spot as she heads into this week’s Kingsmill Championship in Virginia.

The South Korean-born New Zealander has not posted a tournament victory in 18 starts since last July, leaving her just 0.25 points ahead of world No. 2 Ryu So-Yeon in the rankings.

With Thailand’s world No. 3 Ariya Jutanugarn, the defending champion at Kingsmill, also lurking behind, Ko, 20, could see her 82-week run as No. 1 come to an end this week if either of her rivals finishes ahead of her.

Ko, however, said the possibility of being dethroned was not on her mind as she prepared for the opening round in Williamsburg.

“I don’t really look at the rankings myself,” Ko said. “I don’t go in my spare time and look, ‘Hey, what position am I in?’ I kind of know these things through media and when people tell me, ‘Hey it’s getting close.’ It could change this week.”

Ko, a teen prodigy who has won two majors in her career, first climbed to No. 1 in February 2015.

“It has been a huge honor to be in this position,” Ko reflected. “It has always been a dream of mine to be the No. 1-ranked player. For it to have happened so early and for it to have happened, it’s something I’m very fortunate about.”

The fact that so many rivals were challenging her position reflected the healthy state of women’s golf, she added.

“The girls are playing amazing golf and there is an incredible amount of talent on this tour in the women’s game in general,” Ko told reporters.

Ko, who won her first LPGA tournament as a 15-year-old at the 2012 Canadian Open, said she still planned to stick by her goal of retiring from the sport at the age of 30.

“My goal is to retire at 30, so that’s another 10 years from now,” Ko said.

“Anything can really happen. I’m sure in a year’s time I’ll be a little bit different from what I am now.

“I don’t know how much I’m going to change in 10 years’ time or five years’ time, but I’m really looking forward to spending that time here, out here on the tour with the girls.” – AFP