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For a player who has played very little on the LPGA Tour this season, Jin Young Ko has certainly made her mark. The number one player in the world won the CME Group Tour Championship by five strokes and finished in the top five in three of her four events this season.

Born on July 7, 1995 in South Korea, Jin Young Ko began playing golf at the early age of seven and credits her parents as having the most significant impact on her career. She began her professional career on the KLPGA in 2013 and won her first title in August 2014 at the Nefs Masterpiece. Ko dominated the KLPGA Tour the next three seasons winning three times in each 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2015 Ko finished second at the Ricoh Women’s British Open and the 2017 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship.

Before becoming a member of the LPGA Tour, Ko played in 11 events and made the cut 10 times with over three-quarters of a million dollars in earnings. By the time she turned 22 years of age, Ko had already won ten times on the KLPGA Tour. Ko decided to become a member of the LPGA Tour in November of 2017 for the start of the 2018 season.

It didn’t take long for Ko to make an impression as an official member of the LPGA Tour. She won her opening tournament at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. Ko was extremely impressive throughout the season, making 24 cuts in 25 tournaments. In addition, she joined only Beverly Hanson, 67 years prior, as the only two players in LPGA history to win in their first LPGA Tour event. Ko’s 13 top-ten finishes and over $1.1 million dollars helped earn her Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year.

Entering the 2019 season, Ko was ranked 10^th in the world. She had a season for the ages, winning four times. The first victory came at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup on March 24. Two weeks later, Ko won her first major championship at the ANA Inspiration, which vaulted her to number one in the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings. Ko earned her second major championship by shooting 15-under par at The Evian Championship.

Not nearly finished with what was already a great season, Ko won the Canadian Women’s Open on August 25 with a tournament record score of 26-under par. She was so in tuned with her game that Ko went on a streak of nearly six and a half rounds without a bogey. Ko finished the season with her first two major championships and four victories overall.

Ko’s accomplishments in 2019 included four victories, 12 top-ten finishes, three second-place finishes and 22 cuts in 22 events. She led the LPGA Tour in official earnings with just under $2.8 million, led the tour in Race to CME Globe, won the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average, was LPGA Player of the Year and ended the season as the top ranked player in the world.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced schedule and travel restrictions, Ko played in only four events. Nevertheless, her win the CME Group Tour Championship and three top five finishes were enough keep her on top in the Rolex World Golf Rankings ahead of Sei Young Kim and Inbee Park, also from Korea.

With a full schedule likely in her future in 2021, expect Ko to continue her dominant play, which could include another major and top or near the top in the golf rankings. At 25-years of age, Jin Young Ko should be a leading player on the LPGA Tour for years to come.