This is the fifth time this year… The golf queen who changes when she sleeps

It’s the fifth time this year. It’s the first time since the Women’s Golf World Rankings were launched in 2006 that five different players have held the top spot in a single year.

Yin Luning, 21, a second-year rookie on the U.S. Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour, made waves when she overtook Lilia Boo (USA) atop the world rankings on Nov. 11.

In doing so, she became the second Chinese player to become world No. 1 after Feng Shanshan, who retired after 10 career victories, and joined the ranks of Lydia Ko (New Zealand), who became world No. 1 at age 17, and Ataya Thittitjer (Thailand), who reached the top at age 19.

When Lydia Ko was crowned golf’s newest queen at the end of last year, it was hard to imagine the competition being as competitive as it is today.

However, since Lydia Ko’s slump, Nelly Korda (USA), Jin Young Ko, Lilia Boo and In Ling have taken over the reigns and it’s been an epic battle.

The five in a year is a new record, surpassing 2017, when Eriya Chutanukarn (Thailand), Yoo So-yeon, Park Sung-hyun and Feng Shanshan held the world No. 1 ranking, and 2022, when Ko Jin-young, Ataya Thititjer, Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko staged a relay.

Golfweek called it “a turning point in women’s professional golf,” as the world’s No. 1 ranking has changed hands so frequently without a clear-cut favorite. In 2021, Ko and Korda were in a two-way tie for the top spot, but their dominance waned last year, and this year has seen the rise of newcomers.

A quick look at the winners of this year’s majors illustrates the change. With Lilia Boo (Chevron Championship, AIG Women’s Open), Inbee Ling (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship), Alison Kopuz (U.S. Open-USA), and Celine Boutier (Evian 토토사이트 Championship-France) splitting the five major titles, the influence of the old guard has dropped dramatically. Lilia Bu and Yin Luning became world No. 1 for the first time in their careers, signaling even greater things to come.

The lack of an absolute powerhouse means that the remaining nine LPGA Tour events this year will be even more competitive.

From world No. 1 In Ling (8.11) to No. 2 Boo (7.98), No. 3 Nelly Korda (7.55), and No. 4 Jin Jin Ko (7.31), the gap in the rankings could easily be overturned with a couple of strong performances. Fifth-ranked Boutier (6.85 points), sixth-ranked Kim Hyo-Joo (5.90 points), and seventh-ranked Lee Min-Ji (5.84 points-Australia) are also candidates for their first world number one.