21 Nov 2017

Ko ends the year at number 9

8:18 am on 21 November 2017

The New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko is set to end the year as the world number nine ranked player.

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Ko has dropped one spot after finishing in a tie for 16th at the season-ending Tour Championship in Florida yesterday.

Shanshan Feng of China is number one.

Ko has been in the top ten for 223 weeks.

South Korea has four players in the top ten and 41 in the top 100.

Ko isn't too concerned about her 16 month winless streak.

"I think sometimes ... obviously winning a championship is a huge deal, but sometimes it's overrated when you haven't won," 20 year old Ko said. "It's like you're still playing well, but just haven't won."

"I kind of feel like it's been that type of year. I think everybody has little ups and downs but it was important to finish on a higher note, which I feel that's what happened."

Ko, a 14-time LPGA winner with two majors to her credit, had 11 top tens this year and won pocketed 1.7 million dollars.

Ko plans to spend her month off in South Korea.

Danny Lee is the top ranked New Zealand man at number 105, while Ryan Fox is 118.