Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn took over the world No. 1 spot from New Zealander Lydia Ko without lifting a club on the LPGA ShopRite Classic, where Ryu So Yeon didn’t qualify on Saturday to seal her victory.
Ryu, ranked third on the planet, had a probability to overtake Ariya by ending third or higher within the tournament in Galloway, New Jersey.
However, she posted two consecutive three-over-par 74s to fail to qualify for the second round of the 54-hole tournament, where South Korean Kim In Kyung and American Paula Creamer shared the lead after 36 holes with similar scores of four-under-par 67s.
Ko will slip from the highest after 84 consecutive weeks at the highest. She was ranked No. 1 for 103 weeks.
Ariya became the tenth player to attain the No. 1 position because the women’s rankings were introduced in 2006 and the primary from Southeast Asia.
The first player to receive this honour was Swede Annika Sorenstam, followed by Lorena Ochoa, Shin Ji-yai, Ai Miyazato, Cristie Kerr, Yani Tseng, Stacy Lewis, Park In-bee and Ko.
Mexican Ochoa holds the record for the longest stay at primary on the planet – 158 weeks.
Source : Sky Sports | Strait Times | Bangkok post office
