So Yeon Ryu has moved to the top spot in the world ranking after firing a two under 69 to cruise to a two-stroke victory in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
It was the South Korean’s second LPGA Tour win this year and her fifth career title.
She started the event as the World No.3 but has leapfrogged Kiwi Lydia Ko and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn into the No.1 ranking for the first time. She replaces Jutanugarn, who claim the World No.1 for the first time on June 12.
“Dreams come true! I always dreamed about it. I cannot believe it. I didn’t expect two good things coming together,” Ryu said after learning she was the new World No.1.

“First of all, I really want to appreciate everyone who has been supportive of me, to make me the No. 1 player in the world. That’s finally made my dream. This is going to be my first week as the No. 1 player in the world. I know it’s going to be a lot of pressure and I know I can handle a lot of different things.”
Ryu’s victory came on the back of a some brilliant play in the second round when she posted a 10 under 61, which was a new tournament record.
Her closing two under 69 saw her move to 18 under, which also set a new tournament record previously set in 2016 by Ko at 17 under. Ryu, who won the ANA Inspiration in April for her second major win, is the first two-time winner on the LPGA Tour of 2017.
RIGHT: Minjee Lee grabbed another top-10 finish and is knocking on the door of a victory. PHOTO: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images.
“I'm glad to be a multiple winner, and also this is not the first time I've won more than once in a year, so hopefully many more to come,” Ryu said.
West Australian Minjee Lee was on track to push Ryu to the finish but a disastrous quadruple bogey nine on the par-5 14th hurt her chances.
Having started the final round eight shots behind Ryu, Lee had picked up four birdies through 13 holes and was within five shots of the leader with good birdie chances ahead. But she stumbled at the 14th dropping her back to eight under.
However, she bounced back with four birdies to close her round of 67 and grab a share of sixth place. It was her fifth top-10 finish in her past seven starts.
Queensland’s Katherine Kirk also grabbed a top-10 spot, finishing at 10 under at T10 after a final round 68.
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