Exceptional record for the full LPGA debut
Leaderboard of the Rookie of the Year award in the lead
“I will learn a lot from my elders and colleagues”
 |
Ataya Titikun (Thailand, photo), a “scary teenager” who took part in the US Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) tour this season, has climbed to number one in the world of women’s golf.
In the women’s golf world rankings announced 1st (now Korean), Titikun ranked first with an average point in the ranking of 7.13, beating Ko Jin-young (7.09). Jinyoung Ko, who took first place by eliminating Nelly Corda (USA) in the world rankings on February 1, gave up the first place he had held for 9 months due to a recent wrist injury and a slow pace like dropping out. of the BMW Ladies Championship in Wonju, Gangwon last month.
The world ranking is classified by adding all the points in the ranking earned in the last two years of racing and dividing by the number of races run. Jin-young Ko has more points in the standings than T-ti-kun in the last two years, but the average value is lower due to the number of competitions she has participated in. Titikun said: “It is an honor. Getting to the top is quite special, but keeping it is even more difficult. I will learn a lot from my great elders and colleagues. I will do my best for my family, my fans and my country.”
Titikun was born on February 20, 2003 and is currently 19 years old. It is the second time that a teenager has taken first place in the women’s golf world rankings after Lydia Ko, a New Zealander who was 17 at the time in February 2015. She is also an LPGA Tour rookie at the top of the world rankings for the first time since Park Sung-hyun in November 2017.
In July 2017, at the young age of just 14, Titikun was called a “brilliant girl” by winning the Thai championship on the European Women’s Professional Golf Tour (LET) in Thailand. She won two LET her last season and was awarded the Rookie of the Year award and the Player of the Year award. Then, she moved on to the LPGA Tour and won her first trophy at the JTBC Classic in March, which was her fifth competition of hers after joining. In September, she also won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, leading the competition for the Rookie of the Year award. The current Rookie of the Year ranking points to 1487, beating 2nd place Hye-jin Choi (1257) and winning the award is strong.
After Titikun and Ko Jin-young, Lydia Ko, Corda, Lee Min-ji (Australia), Brook Henderson (Canada) and Lexi Thompson (USA) chase them. Korean players in the top 10 included Jin-young Ko, In-ji Jeon in 8th and Hyo-joo Kim in 10th.
The ranking of the top 10 players in the men’s golf world ranking does not change. Among the Korean players, Kim Joo-hyeong is the best in 15th place and Im Seong-jae is 20th.
Reporter Oh Hae-won [email protected]
