Ko Not Concerned With Rankings
When Lydia Ko left the Tour for a three-week break in mid-May, she held the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Rankings, a position she’d held for more than a year. This week, Ko returns from vacation as the world No. 2, having lost the top-spot on Monday to Ariya Jutanugarn following her victory at last week’s Manulife LPGA Classic. Ko spoke with the media for the first time on Wednesday about dropping out of the top spot. While being world No. 1 was a dream for her, it’s not something she’s going to think much about.
“I’m going to work really hard, but I don’t think going forward I’m going to think about the ranking as much,” Ko told the media. “I’m just going to take a tournament at a time, and if I end up being able to get back in that position, great.”
Scheduled breaks throughout the Tour’s schedule is a practice Ko implemented during her time working with David Leadbetter and Sean Hogan and looks to have continued now with Gary Gilchrist. The Tour is in the midst of a stretch of 12 consecutive weeks and Ko took the last month to prepare for a packed summer schedule.
“Took some time to relax, did some university work. It was a really good break,” Ko said. “Hopefully the preparation I’ve done I know will work for these tournaments.”
Ko finished tied for fourth at the 2016 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. She’ll play the opening rounds alongside Lexi Thompson and Michelle Wie. The group tees off Thursday morning at 8:32 a.m. local time.
No Driver, No Problem For World No. 1
Ariya Jutanugarn ascended to the top of the Rolex Rankings with her victory last week at the Manulife LPGA Classic where she drained a 25-footer for birdie to defeat Lexi Thompson and In Gee Chun on the first playoff hole to capture her first win of 2017 and the world No. 1 spot. Jutanugarn became the first player from Thailand, male or female, to become the world’s top ranked golfer.
“I think they really excited about that and I’m really happy to be representing Thailand and I’m very proud of myself that I can make them happy,” said Jutanugarn.
The long-hitter played her way to the top of the world without driver in the bag and she’s sticking to that plan again this week at Blythefield Country Club where she won’t be putting driver in play.
“The rough here is pretty tight, like pretty long, pretty hard. Every course is different set up and last week we not going to see the rough this much,” Jutanugarn told the media this week in Michigan. “I know it’s going to be very challenging and pretty hard.”
Thursday, Jutanugarn and her caddie will be recognized on the first tee and presented with the Rolex Rankings No. 1 caddie bib reserved for players who hold the ranking. Jutanugarn will play alongside Gerina Piller and Stacy Lewis. The group tees off at 1:32 p.m.
What Playoff?
This week’s defending champion, Sei Young Kim, has plenty of fond memories looking back on her victory last season at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. But the one that stood out to her most came on the 72nd hole, when she thought she actually won.
Focused on completing the 18th hole, Kim thought she held a one-stroke lead and needed to merely two-putt her way to victory on Sunday. It wasn’t till after Kim finished the hole that her caddie told her she was headed to a playoff with Carlota Ciganda.
“After made the bogey, my caddie told me, ‘You didn’t win, you have to playoff.’ I was like ‘What! Oh, my god.’ I’m very regretful of that,” Kim told the media on Wednesday.
Kim went on to get up and down from the rough on the first playoff hole to defeat Ciganda and capture her fifth career win on the LPGA Tour.
“Last year it was a great win because the win makes sure to represent my country at the Olympics,” Kim said about earning one of four spots representing Korea at the Olympic games in Rio. “I had a great memory coming back here.”
Kim finished tied for 25th at the Olympic games in Rio. She’ll play the opening rounds of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give alongside Jessica Korda and Brooke Henderson. The group tees off at 8:10 a.m. off the 10th tee.
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