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New Zealander Ko, who won her season-opener in
Saudi Arabia last month to open up a comfortable lead at the top
of the world rankings over American Korda, is chasing an elusive
first title in Singapore, where a 2015 runner-up finish is her
best result.
"You can never get too cocky about what ranked player you are
because it's so tight at the top," Ko said this week.
"Everyone is playing really well and you can't say, 'I'm going
to be there forever'.
"When I was younger, I felt like being number one meant that I
had to be winning or contending week in, week out, but that's
not necessarily true."
Third-ranked Australian Minjee Lee is among last year's five
major champions competing for the $1.8 million prize purse in
the 72-hole, no-cut event, while Ko Jin-young will be looking to
defend her lone title of 2022 when play starts on Thursday.
The South Korean world number five, a twice major champion, was
sidelined for much of last season with a wrist injury and missed
back-to-back cuts for the first time in August. She tied for
sixth in Thailand last week in her first start of 2023.
"I know there's going to be pressure but I don't want to think
too much about it," she said. "I just need to meditate as that
has worked well for me in the past and has allowed me to focus
more on my swing and golf shots."
South Koreans have dominated the tournament dubbed "Asia's
major", winning six of the last seven editions and seven of 14
overall since it was first held in 2008. The 2020 edition was
cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seven-times major winner Park In-bee, the only player to have
won the title more than once, will not compete after announcing
her pregnancy in December.
(Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Robert
Birsel)
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