Jin Young Ko shoots for Lorena Ochoa's weeks at No. 1 record

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko is looking for her third career major championship this week.

But another honor appears highly attainable when the South Korean tees it up in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Springfield, N.J.

Ko, 27, has tied Hall of Famer Lorena Ochoa's mark for most weeks spent at No. 1. Both golfers have 158 weeks in the top spot of the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings.

A solid performance would certainly allow Ko to extend her streak to 159.

"It's an honor people saying with Lorena and me in same sentence," Ko said. "It makes me happy, but also it makes me humble. It's great to honor, to stand with Lorena."

Ochoa's streak was accomplished without a fall from the top spot. It lasted from April 2007 to May 2010 until she retired from golf at age 28.

Ko spent 100 consecutive weeks at No. 1 from July 2019 and June 2021. Her latest return to the top spot started last month.

Nelly Korda is currently ranked second in the world. Lydia Ko of New Zealand is third.

Jin Young Ko won both her major titles in 2019 so she has a drought she would like to end. She has 10 top-10 finishes in majors, including a second-place finish at the 2015 Women's (British) Open and a tie for second at the 2020 U.S. Women's Open.

Ko is learning all she can about Baltusrol Golf Club's Lower Course in hopes of adding another major crown to the resume.

"I haven't played this golf course before this week," Ko said. "The course is a really challenge golf course and not easy, but it keeps fairways or greens, I can make a lot of birdies. Focus more from the tee shot and second shot, and greens are really firm and fast. I need to more focus on the golf course."

Ko has 15 career LPGA victories.