Ko climbs in rankings

Lydia Ko has surged to a five-year high in the women’s golf world rankings. Fresh from winning a bevy of trophies and a record US$2 million (NZ$3.25 million) to cap the season, the 25-yearold Kiwi has catapulted past Thailand’s Atthaya

Thitikul to No 2. It’s her highest ranking since the former world No 1 dropped a spot after finishing 24th in the Meijer

Classic in 2017. A downward trend followed, eventually bottoming out with Ko sliding to 55th in 2020, when her game was hindered by psychological and swing struggles after numerous tweaks under a raft of coaches. But Ko’s back within reach of the top spot, the one she owned for 85 weeks between February 2015 and June 2017. She’s breathing down American Nelly Korda’s neck, too. Had Korda finished 21st or lower (she finished in a share of 10th) in the LPGA Tour’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, Ko would have usurped her.