After almost a year away, Planet No. 1 Jin Youthful Ko returns to the LPGA Tour | Golf Entire world

The Entire world No. 1 in the women’s video game is returning to the tour of her finest good results. Jin Younger Ko made a decision to not travel when the LPGA Tour restarted levels of competition following the coronavirus shutdown, deciding upon as a substitute to remain dwelling in South Korea and compete on the KLPGA Tour. Practically a year to the day immediately after showing in her last LPGA occasion, the CME Team Tour Championship, Ko is actively playing this 7 days in the Pelican Women’s Championship in Florida.

After spending a year absent from the tour, which integrated lacking her important title defense at the ANA Inspiration, the largest question all over Ko’s return is, why now? Just take a appear at the plan and you are going to see the reason: Ko’s return comes 4 months before the the U.S. Women’s Open. The 7 days following the last significant of the time is the CME Team Tour Championship. Ko’s entire world position will get her into the U.S. Women’s Open up, but possessing not performed in LPGA tournaments in 2020, she doesn’t have any points to get her into the CME, even with staying the LPGA’s 2019 major revenue winner (with four victories) and participant of the year.

This year, the Tour Championship is supplying two sponsor”s invitations, so Ko could be 1 of people and get a commence. Or, she could qualify by earning plenty of factors in just one of the upcoming events. A gain or two top 10s in the Pelican, the Volunteers of The usa Typical (Dec. 3-6) or the U.S. Women’s Open up (Dec. 10-13) could get her the details essential to put her in the major 70, earning her a place in the area that will contend for the biggest winner’s look at in women’s golfing: $1.1 million.

Ko, 25, mentioned she’s missed the LPGA, observing her buddies and competing. When it arrives down to it, her return is occurring for a uncomplicated rationale:

“I want to win once more,” Ko claimed.

Ko’s been busy when she’s been household in South Korea. She took cooking lessons and begun operating with a new swing coach to aid her dial in her play 100 yards and in. She also performed in six KLPGA gatherings, with her caddie, Dave Brooker, traveling to Korea to caddie for her in the past 3. Right after quarantining at a lodge, he stayed with Ko’s family members.

“He’s like family suitable now for the reason that he stayed my property for two months,” Ko mentioned. “Then my mother often cooked for him. Every single meal, a few meals a day. So he told me he, like, obtained pounds.”

Following having virtually a year absent, Ko’s fired up to be participating in on the tour once again. But that does not arrive without the need of a bit of anxiousness.

“Yeah, minor anxious, because I never know what take place,” Ko mentioned. “But I have to acknowledge that emotion.”