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| Jinyoung Ko. © AFP=News1 © News1 Reporter Dongmyeong Woo |
Go Jin-young (25, Solaire), who is heading for Geum Eui-hwan, begins to take his breath in January and prepares for the 2021 season. If Ko Jin-young continues its uptrend next year, the record of the longest Korean player in the world ranking can be overtaken.
On the 27th, Ko Jin-young returns to Korea through Incheon Airport. Two weeks of self-isolation will begin, and the Diamond Resort Tournament of Championships will be canceled in the opening game of the LPGA Tour in the 2021 season in January.
Ko Jin-young suffered twists and turns in the aftermath of a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) in 2020. After staying in Korea and watching the Corona 19 situation, he returned to the LPGA tour only in November.
A classic due to a long blank was expected. However, Ko Jin-young pre-heated to 34th place at the Pelican Women’s Championship, the first tournament, and immediately jumped into the championship race.
In his second tournament, the Volunteers of America Classic, he was alone in fifth place and tied for second in the major US Women’s Open. In the CME Group Tour Championship in the final game of the season, which dramatically secured the right to participate through the US Women’s Open, he won the championship trophy with an overwhelming performance on the last day. Even after participating in only four competitions, Ko Jin-young finished the 2020 season splendidly by winning the prize.
Ko Jin-young corrected his swing while staying in Korea this year, and as a result, his flying distance increased. In the CME Group Tour Championship, the average driver’s distance was 258 yards, which was not much different from long hitter Kim Se-young (259 yards). There are still few samples, but if you continue to look like this, the accuracy of the long-term iron shot can be improved.
By winning the CME Group Tour Championship, Ko Jin-young secured the world’s No. 1 position. The ranking could have changed depending on the result of the final match, but Ko Jin-young widened the ranking point gap with 2nd place Kim Se-young (27, Mirae Asset) to 1.28 points, keeping the world’s top rank.
Ko Jin-young has not missed the top spot in the world ranking for 74 weeks from the end of July 2019 to the present. The total period in which Ko Jin-young has been ranked No. 1 in the world ranking is 86 weeks.
In 2021, you can also aim for the record of the longest Korean player in the world ranking. Among Korean players, Park In-bi, who has been ranked No. 1 in the world ranking for 106 weeks, holds the longest record. The gap is still large, but considering Ko Jin-young’s performance at the end of the season, it does not seem impossible to overtake Park In-bi.
The fact that there aren’t many tournaments held in the early 2021 season can be beneficial to Jinyoung Ko. Only two competitions are scheduled in January and February next year. Even if I take a break in January, the burden is not too great.
Ko Jin-young is highly likely to compete as a defending champion in the ANA Inspiration for the major tournament scheduled for April. Therefore, if you return to the tournament from March, management of world ranking points can be easier.