Jin Young Ko is set to reclaim the World No.1 golf ranking after producing a blistering finish to win the LPGA Tour event in South Korea in a play-off.
Ko shot a final round eight-under 64 then birdied the first play-off hole to defeat fellow South Korean Hee Jeong Lim and claim the BMW Ladies Championship title in Busan on Sunday.
Ko's 11th career LPGA victory – her fourth this year – is projected to take her past American Nelly Korda into top spot on the rankings.
Ko was previously No.1-ranked from July 20, 2019, to June 27, 2021, a streak of 100 consecutive weeks, and was also No.1 for 12 weeks in early 2019.
Lim led by four strokes going into the final round, but Ko's flawless eight-birdie round allowed her to match her countrywoman at 22-under 266 as Lim shot a 68.
"I did return to that spot earlier than I expected. I'm going to do my best so that I can maintain that position." - Jin Young Ko.
"I wasn't that nervous going into the playoff. I think I was feeding off the confidence I had during the round," Ko said of her first-ever playoff.
Four players were tied for third, four strokes behind Ko and Lim, including South Korean-born New Zealander Lydia Ko after a 64.
Australia's Minjee Lee was near the leaders midway through tournament but faded and a final round 71 left her tied 12th, nine shots outside the play-off.
RELATED: Inside Ko's winning bag
Going into the tournament, Ko had 14 straight rounds in the 60s, tying her with Annika Sorenstam (2005) and So Yeon Ryu (2015-17) for the most in Tour history.
But Ko finished with a one-under 71 on Thursday to end the streak. She's now started a new one, shooting 64-67-64 to finish the tournament.
Ko won her third title of the season at the Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey earlier this month, her third win in her past six starts, a stretch that includes a runner-up finish and a sixth-place finish.
And now she's back at World No.1 she aims to stay a while.
"I felt if I worked hard I might have a chance this year," said Ko." So I did return to that spot earlier than I expected. I'm going to do my best so that I can maintain that position."
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