According to ESPN on Monday, Jin-Young Ko of Seoul, South Korea set a record in women’s golf for the most weeks ranked number one in the world. Ko has now been ranked number one for 159 weeks, which broke the record previously set by Lorena Ochoa of Guadalajara, Mexico, who was ranked first for 158 weeks.
Ochoa was actually ranked first in the world for 158 straight weeks from April 23, 2007 to May 2, 2010. Ko has been first in the world for five separate occasions since 2019. She was ranked first for 12 straight weeks from April 8, 2019 to June 30, 2019, 100 straight weeks from July 29, 2019 to June 27, 2021, two straight weeks from October 25, 2021 to November 27, 2021, 39 straight weeks from January 31, 2022 to October 30, 2022, and is now into her sixth week since May 22, 2023.
Jin-Young Ko is one of three golfers ranked number one in the world during the 2023 calendar year. She is joined by Lydia Ko of New Zealand, and Nelly Korda of the United States. Lydia Ko was ranked first from the beginning of the year until April 23, and Korda was ranked first for a month from April 24 to May 21. Korda regained the world number one ranking after finishing third behind Lilia Vu of the United States and Angel Yin of the United States at the 2023 Chevron Championship. Jin-Young Ko replaced Korda on May 22 when she won the 2023 LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup in Clifton, New Jersey. Ko defeated Minjee Lee of Australia in a playoff.
In her career, Jin-Young Ko is a two-time major champion. She won the 2019 ANA Inspiration and the 2019 Evian Championship.
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