It’s been a head-turning year in women’s professional golf. For the first time in the history of the Rolex Rankings (which dates back to 2006), five different women have been ranked No. 1 during a calendar year.
On Sept. 11, China’s Ruoning Yin, a two-time winner on tour this season, rose to No. 1 for the first time. In 2022 and 2017, four different players held the No. 1 spot, which was the previous record.
China’s Yin became the third player to reach No. 1 at the age of 20 or younger, joining Atthaya Thitikul (19 years, 8 months and 11 days in October 2022) and Lydia Ko (17 years, 9 months and 9 days in February 2015 and 18 years, 6 months and 2 days old in October 2015).
While Lilia Vu won two majors this season, Yin’s consistency allowed her to overtake the young American after a strong finish over the weekend in Cincinnati. One year ago, Yin ranked 193rd in the world.
With nine events left on the LPGA’s 2023 schedule, here’s a look at the tour’s revolving door of world No. 1s:
Lydia Ko of New Zealand in action during the Pro-Am event prior to the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath Golf Club on August 09, 2023 in Tadworth, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The year began with plenty of Kiwi hype after the one-time phenom completed her incredible comeback season with a victory at the 2022 CME Group Tour Championship and a sweep of the season-ending awards. She promptly won the Aramco Saudi Ladies International, fresh off her honeymoon, to begin 2023 and looked primed for another monster year.
It hasn’t exactly worked out that way, however, as Ko has yet to win on the LPGA this season. Just last week Ko said she went into the season with a lot of “self-pressure” and that she doesn’t feel that far off, noting that she’s been trying too hard to be perfect. She has yet to finish in the top 10 on tour since the Honda LPGA Thailand event in February.
In a Golf Channel interview at the Kroger Queen City Classic, Ko even talked about contemplating retirement, a subject she has been open about throughout her career.
Ko, 26, is currently ranked ninth in the world.
Nelly Korda of the United States tees off on the 15th hole during the Third Round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 29, 2023 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
The 25-year-old Korda spent a total of six weeks atop the rankings this season over the course of two different stints. Korda began the year with six top-6 finishes in her first seven starts but hasn’t contended for a title in months. She did take time off mid-year to rest a low back injury.
Korda currently ranks third.
Jin Young Ko imitates a selfie as she poses with the winner’s trophy after a playoff win against Minjee Lee at the 2023 Cognizant Founders Cup at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey. (Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
In June, Jin Young Ko set a new record for total number of weeks at No. 1 in the world at 159, breaking the previous mark held by Lorena Ochoa.
Ko has been No. 1 on five different occasions since April 2019. Her runner-up finish at the CPKC Women’s Open was her first top 3 since winning the Cognizant Founders Cup in May.
She is currently No. 4 in the world.
Lilia Vu lifts the AIG Women’s Open trophy at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Vu, a former UCLA standout, became the first American since Juli Inkster in 1999 to win multiple majors in one season (AIG Women’s British Open; Chevron Championship). Vu, who also won the Honda LPGA Thailand in February, said her early-season success felt like a fluke after she missed four cuts in her next five starts.
It all came together spectacularly, however, at Walton Heath, where she won by six to bookend her major titles.
Currently No. 2 in the world, Vu and France’s Celine Boutier are the LPGA’s only three-time winners this season.
Ruoning Yin raises the championship trophy after winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
China’s Yin rose to the top of the world after recording her third consecutive third-place finish at the Kroger Queen City Championship. In all, Yin has seven top-4 finishes this season including two victories. One of the best ball-strikers on tour, Yin became only the second player from China to win a major championship at the KPMG Women’s PGA, following in the footsteps of trailblazer Shanshan Feng, a former No. 1 who won 10 times on the LPGA.
“I got goosebumps,” said Yin. “I mean, I think, yeah, world No. 1 is the big step on the way to chasing Shanshan.”
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