Ko eyes major breakthrough in LPGA event

17-year-old golfer is looking to becoming youngest major champion

RANCHO MIRAGE: Lydia Ko, at 17 already the youngest golfer ever to reach number one in the world, will try to add a first major championship to her sparkling resume this week at the LPGA's ANA Inspiration.

A victory would make the South Korean-born New Zealander the youngest major champion in LPGA history, surpassing American Morgan Pressel, who was 18 when she lifted the trophy on the same Mission Hills Country Club Dinah Shore Tournament course in 2007.

Although Ko hasn't finished in the top 25 in two prior appearances at Mission Hills, her remarkable recent consistency makes her the player to beat this week.

"One of my goals coming into this week was to be very consistent, get myself in good positions, and that's what I've been doing," said Ko.

"I feel great, I played good last week at the Kia Classic so I'm definitely coming with a little bit more confidence into this week despite my bad luck at Mission Hills."

Ko brings a streak of 28 straight LPGA rounds under par into the tournament — one shy of matching the record set by Swedish great Annika Sorenstam in 2004.

"Obviously since I'm so close, it will be at the back of my mind because there's been so much talk about it," she said. "If I break the record or if I tie it or if I don't break it, I’ll be happy just to get even this close.”

American Lexi Thompson, who will try to join Sorenstam as the only players to win this trophy in back-to-back years, would love to be staring down the under-par record. "There's not a weakness in her game," said Thompson of Ko.

A victory would also help Ko consolidate her position atop the world rankings, with former world number one Park In-Bee of South Korea threatening to unseat her with a win or even a runner-up finish — depending on where Ko finishes.

 

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