The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican has seen a tough neck-and-neck competition on the greens. With the big LPGA stars taking part this season, the stakes in and about the game are pretty high, and thus, so is the battle for the CME points and the top spot on the Rolex Ranking charts. 

Amid this intense match and the top-rank hustle, LPGA star Jin Young Ko has opened up about her past game secrets and her experience of playing at the ANNIKA event. Here’s the full story of how the player has passed hardships and who she thinks deserves the credit. 

Jin Young Ko’s journey from last year’s ANNIKA setback to current top performance

Jin Young Ko talked with the media on Thursday after her T2 finish in the first round. The player was asked questions related to performance and about the time she spent with her family back in Korea. A question posed to Ko asked her if she enjoyed playing golf today and how hard it had been for her to climb up to where she had been in the past a second time round. 

At last year’s ANNIKA event, Ko wasn’t able to make a cut. This year, her performance has landed her in the top spot after her first round. Replying to the question, the player remarked that her time on the greens had been hard. Ko admitted that her game last year was not good and added that she has been practicing a lot. “I didn’t play good last year, so I, yeah, I thought my golf game is like done right now, it’s going to be,” the golfer added. 

Furthering on her last year’s game, the player said that a lot of her friends were around for the 2022 ANNIKA event, and after she couldn’t make it, they convinced her that she would be able to do it next year. The world no. 4 also added that she practices really hard with her coach, and more than anything, she is immensely thankful for her caddie, who, even after seeing her game last year, did not leave her side. 

Ko’s performance on the greens this year has secured her a spot at the ANNIKA event. Here’s a quick glimpse at how the golfer’s professional year has been going so far. 

Jin Young Ko’s 2023 performance on the golf greens 

Jin-young Ko’s first round at Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, ended with her securing the T2 spot with other players like Patty Tavatanakit, Emily Kristine Pedersen, and Minami Katsu. The race for the top spot is still on, and so all eyes are set on the players. 

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Jin Young Ko’s recent performances so far have been pretty strong. This year, Ko has been a part of a total of 18 tournaments, out of which she has finished in the top five once, along with scoring two wins overall. Her average finish has been 19, and her average score has been -7. 

As far as the metrics are concerned, Ko has finished below par 14 times and completed her day bogey-free once in her last 20 rounds played. She has been ranked among the top 10 scores of the day, and not just that, she has also carded a top-five score in three of her last 20 rounds. Now, whether the golfer will be able to secure a top spot in the Rolex Women Ranking chart, only time will tell. Till then, stay tuned!

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