Dominant Ko Jin-young turns sights on Chevron Championship at Mission Hills

It seems fitting that the world of male golf is giddy with excitement over the possibility of Tiger Woods making an unlikely return at next week’s Masters. Before then Ko Jin-young has scope to build on the kind of run reminiscent of Woods in his pomp. The major year does not in fact begin at Augusta National on 7 April; on Thursday, Ko and co tee it up at the rebranded Chevron Championship at Mission Hills.

Since last July Ko has secured six LPGA Tour victories. This run in just 11 tournaments includes a tie for second, two shared sixths and a tied fourth. Ko’s 60th place at the Evian Championship appears disastrous in context of her otherwise imperious form. Ko has returned 33 successive under-par rounds. Tiger-esque? Too right.

The 26-year-old Korean arrived in California with a warning when asked whether she has reached her best level. “Not yet, no,” she insisted. “I am trying to play better than yesterday and even better than two days ago.”

Ko is the star attraction in a major that will miss Nelly Korda, following the diagnosis of a blood clot for the former world No 1. Ko’s touch understandably means she tops the standings and she is candid about her desire to complete a career grand slam of majors, having won both the Evian and the Chevron (then called the ANA) in 2019. “Major competitions are a motivation in themselves,” Ko said. “That makes me a lot more focused. I love this course. I love to play here.”

Unfortunately for Ko, this marks the last playing of the event at Mission Hills before a move to the Houston area, which is linked to Chevron’s multi-year sponsorship deal. It remains a pity that Augusta’s women’s amateur event clashes with a tournament carrying a $5m prize fund – $750,000 goes to the winner –