Now Ryu takes over as women’s world No 1 after her 15th career victory
The women’s game has a new world No 1 for a second time in a few weeks after South Korea’s Ryu So-yeon jumped to the top of the rankings after winning the NW Arkansas Championship by two shots.
The 26-year-old finished the 54-hole LPGA Tour event on 18-under-par for her second tournament victory of the season and 15th career title.
Ryu, winner of the season’s opening major, the ANA Inspiration in April, closed with a two-under 69 to finish ahead of compatriot Amy Yang and Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn. “Dreams come true”, said Ryu on becoming world No 1 for the first time, toppling Ariya Jutanugarn after her short reign after she’d ended Lydia Ko’s long run in top spot.
Ryu will be aiming to cement her position in the season’s second major, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which gets underway on Thursday at Olympia Fields in Illinois. For the second year running, all 100 of the top 100 LPGA members on the circuit’s money-list are included in the 156-player field, including 26 major champions.
Ryu’s title rivals will include defending champion Brooke Henderson, who became the second youngest player to win a major championship in LPGA history at last year’s event. She will be joined by Jutanugarn, three-time champion Inbee Park, and Ko.
Those major champions also include Catriona Matthew, In Gee Chun, Paula Creamer, Laura Davies, Shanshan Feng, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lang, Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lincicome, Anna Nordqvist, Suzann Pettersen, Morgan Pressel, Lexi Thompson, Karrie Webb and Michelle Wie.