Two weeks ago, women’s golf had its first new No. 1 in 85 weeks when Ariya Jutanugarn overtook Lydia Ko at the top. Now, just two weeks later, there is another new top dog.

 
This time, it’s 26-year-old South Korean So Yeon Ryu, who became the LPGA’s first multiple-tournament winner of 2017, after she captured the Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Championship by two strokes.

The win comes just one week before the LPGA is set to tee off at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the second major of the year.

Ryu’s other 2017 win was at the ANA Inspiration, the first LPGA major of the season.

Bullets

• Reportedly uncomfortable with her five-stroke lead heading into Sunday’s final round at the Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Championship, Ryu shot a two-under 69 to win by two strokes over Amy Yang and Moriya Jutanugarn. Ryu built the large lead with a first round 65 and a second round 61.
• Despite being 16 events into the LPGA season, Ryu is the Tour’s first multiple-tournament winner on the season.
• Unless another “bug” changes things, the win will vault Ryu to #1 in the world rankings, her first time in the top spot. Ariya Jutanugarn, who didn’t play this week, will drop to #2, with Lydia Ko the new #3 after a T25 in Arkansas.
• Ryu has nine top-10s in just 11 events this year. The Wal-Mart victory comes one tournament after a surprise missed cut at the Shoprite Classic earlier this month.

Quotable

“I can still see a bit of things to work on, but I’m glad to win the tournament and I’m ready to play another major next week.”
–So Yeon Ryu