Ko Jin-young's 'Prime Era'... "The Secret to the Longest Reign as 'Number 1'"

Strong Mentality, Mental Training Effects Through Meditation
Relentless Practice Enthusiast, Continuous Research for Improvement
Specialty in 'Songgot Iron Shot', Equipped with Consistent Performance

It is the prime era of Ko Jin-young. Although she was 'cut off' at last week's US Women's Open, she maintained her No. 1 position in the women's golf world rankings for the eighth consecutive week as announced on the 10th. She surpassed the 'living legend' Lorena Ochoa (Mexico, 159 weeks) and enjoyed the No. 1 status for a remarkable 161 weeks. This is a new record for the longest period as world No. 1. Ko Jin-young has held the top spot for over 3 years and 4 months. Nelly Korda (USA), ranked second in the world, also highly praised Ko Jin-young's skills. She said, "The best female player in the world right now is Ko Jin-young." What is the secret behind Ko Jin-young's power, acknowledged even by her rivals?

The secret to Ko Jin-young becoming the best is her strong mental strength. David Brooker (England), who carries Ko Jin-young's caddie bag, also emphasized this point. He was the 'special assistant' who carried Ochoa's golf bag from August 2006 to June 2009 and shared 21 of Ochoa's 27 career wins. Brooker explained the strengths of Ochoa and Ko Jin-young. In an interview with the US Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, he said, "Ko Jin-young and Ochoa have different playing styles. Ochoa tends to make many eagles based on her long drives, while Ko Jin-young's strength is consistency." He added, "Their mental toughness is similar, and their ability to overcome crises is also outstanding."

Ko Jin-young is a true 'Number 1' with outstanding skills and strong mental strength.

Ko Jin-young struggled in the second half of last year due to a wrist injury. After finishing tied for 8th at the Evian Championship in July, a major tournament, she participated in six more events but experienced three 'cut offs' and one withdrawal, showing poor performance. She also lost her firmly held No. 1 world ranking position. Critical interpretations emerged, saying, "Ko Jin-young's prime era is over." However, Ko Jin-young pulled herself together. Along with training, she regained confidence through mental training.

Jung Green, CEO of Green Coaching Solution, who has been with Ko Jin-young since her rookie days, praised her, saying, "Ko Jin-young has a simple personality. She is flexible in accepting advice and suggestions." He added, "When told to try something, she immediately put it into practice. There is a reason she succeeds." During Ko Jin-young's slump period, Jung recalled, "I told her to prepare and wait," and "I recommended meditation and emphasized the process of clearing the mind." Ko Jin-young revived with wins at the HSBC World Championship in March and the Founders Cup in May, achieving her 15th career victory.

Ko Jin-young is a 'practice bug' who constantly researches with coach Lee Si-woo (right). [Photo by Lee Si-woo, Instagram]

Ko Jin-young is not a genius-type golfer. Compared to her contemporaries Kim Hyo-joo and Baek Kyu-jung, she received less attention early in her career. Ko Jin-young changed dramatically after winning the KEB Hana Bank Championship in 2017 as a non-member, securing a direct ticket to the LPGA. She had her best year in 2018, winning Rookie of the Year, and in 2019, she won four tournaments including two majors. In 2021, she also won five tournaments, achieving three consecutive money titles.

The driving force behind Ko Jin-young's success is effort. She is famous as an intense 'practice bug.' Even during tournaments, she looks for points to improve. After winning the Founders Cup, she invited coach Lee Si-woo, who was in Korea, to the US during a short break. She repeatedly pondered to find a 100% satisfactory performance. She went out to the field every day from 6:30 a.m., gripping her clubs until the blisters on her palms burst. It is unusual to train so intensively during the season. The coach said, "Ko Jin-young is a style that focuses on training," and predicted, "Better results are expected than now."

Ko Jin-young is a player known for her precise iron shots.

Ko Jin-young's strength is her consistent performance. Her fairway hit rate and greens in regulation are outstanding. She rarely loses strokes due to big mistakes. Except for the poor year of 2022, she has never fallen below second in average score or fifth in greens in regulation. In 2019, she received the Vare Trophy (lowest scoring average). Last year, she set an LPGA Tour record by scoring in the 60s for 16 consecutive rounds. She also achieved a streak of 34 consecutive rounds under par.

Her concentration at crucial moments is also excellent. This is the power behind collecting 15 trophies in a short period. Her attitude toward competition is unwavering. The coach praised, "Ko Jin-young seems to think 'there is always a chance' when hitting the ball. She has a bold style," and added, "Compared to other players, she has an extraordinary competitive spirit."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.