Former world No. 1 Ko Jin-young has returned to the top 10 in the women's golf rankings after a runner-up finish on the LPGA Tour.
Ko jumped four spots to reach No. 7 in the latest rankings unveiled Tuesday. The rise came on the heels of Ko's runner-up showing at the Founders Cup in Bradenton, Florida, on Sunday, where she finished four strokes behind Korean American Yealimi Noh at 17-under.
Ko has now posted consecutive top-five finishes in two tournaments in the new year. She tied for fourth at the season opener, Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, on Feb. 2.
Ko began this year at No. 11 and slipped to No. 12 in mid-January.
In June 2023, Ko set a record for most weeks spent at No. 1 in the women's rankings with 159. But she fell from the top spot later in 2023 and failed to move back up in 2024 as she went winless for the first time since her LPGA debut in 2018.
Ko is now the highest-ranked South Korean player, as Ryu Hae-ran dropped a spot to No. 8.
Amy Yang is next at No. 12. Yoon Ina, a former Korean tour star playing in her first LPGA season, rose four places to No. 25 despite missing the cut at the Founders Cup, her first LPGA tournament. (Yonhap)
