Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Jin Young Ko’s grip on the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Rankings is in jeopardy after she was forced to withdraw Saturday from the CP Women’s Open in her native South Korea.

Thailand teenager Atthaya Thitikul now is in position to ascend into the top spot for the first time in her brilliant young career. Thitikul, 19, will take the lead into Sunday’s final round of the CP Women’s Open, the event Ko won last year.

Ko had not played on the LPGA Tour since late August because of a wrist injury and entered the CP Women’s Open with her No. 1 ranking slipping. She started well by playing her first nine holes of the event at 1-under-par but struggled on the back nine to shoot an 8-over 80.

After shooting a 79 in the second round Friday, Ko withdrew before Saturday’s third round.

Ko’s victory in the CP Women’s Open last year allowed her to take the No. 1 spot in the rankings from Nelly Korda. Now the event could lead to another transfer of the top spot.

In 2017, Thitikul became the youngest to win a professional golf tournament when she took the Ladies European Thailand Championship title as an amateur at 14 years, four months and 19 days. Thitikul also was the No. 1-ranked amateur for 12 weeks in 2019 when she was 16.

After winning four times on the Ladies European Tour from 2017-21, Thitikul has won twice on the LPGA tour this season: the JTBC Classic in March and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in September.

–Field Level Media