Former World No. 1 Lydia Ko Faces Massive Setback As the LPGA Pro Aims To Salvage a Dismal Season at $3.25 Event

An athlete has a fair share of ups and downs in their career. The same is the case with golf, as players find it hard to hang on to the top spot of the sport a lot of times. And Lydia Ko has found herself in a similar situation ahead of the ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.

The tournament would see a total of 120 players, including Ko, battling it out on the course. And the golfer from New Zealand, amid a disappointing season, would look to get back on her feet at the same time. However, as she gears up for a tough road uphill, the professional has come face to face with yet another setback, in a surprise of sorts!

Lydia Ko suffers another complication

Ko has had a bumpy year, with just five top-10 finishes coming off in 2023, including a victory at the Saudi Ladies International in February. However, she was only able to put up a sub-par performance during the rest of the events, forcing her down from the No. 1 position on the Rolex Rankings that she had regained for the third time in November 2022.

And now, the professional finds herself in the 10th position on the world rankings, ahead of the upcoming event in Florida. Even if she emerges victorious at the $3.25 million tournament, the 26-year-old would not be able to reclaim the top spot in the standings.

A post was shared on Twitter showcasing the different players that are in contention for the No. 1 spot during the competition named after Annika Sorenstam. It includes the likes of Celine Boutier (No. 3), Ruoning Yin (No. 1), Lilia Vu (No. 2), Jin Young Ko (No. 4), and Nelly Korda (No. 6). If all five of the players are unable to make the cut, then the current No. 3 Boutier would become the bearer of the top spot.

Nevertheless, Ko would aim to come out winning in the upcoming tournament and thus make a comeback. And with her recent performances on the course, it doesn’t seem like a faraway dream.

Is Ko beginning her comeback saga?

The golfer was able to put up a commendable showcase at the Maybank Championship that ended not too long ago. The Kiwi put up a score of 14-under, 274 all the while finishing at T11. The professional was also able to take home a cut of $54,591 from the total prize purse.

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However, prior to this tournament, the 26-year-old had put up a scintillating performance at the BMW Ladies Championship that took place in South Korea. The LPGA pro registered a score of 274 (-14), enabling her to place 3rd on the scoreboard.

Well, after taking a look at the numbers, don’t you think she is slowly getting back on her feet? Share your thoughts below.

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