New Jersey: Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn has seized the No.1 world ranking from New Zealand's Lydia Ko without lifting a club in the LPGA ShopRite Classic where Ryu So-Yeon missed the cut on Saturday to cement the shift.
South Korea's Ryu, ranked third in the world, had a chance to leapfrog Ariya by finishing third or better in the tournament in Galloway, New Jersey.
But she fired back-to-back rounds of three-over 74 to miss the second-round cut in the 54-hole tournament, where her compatriot Kim In-Kyung and American Paula Creamer shared the 36-hole lead.
Ko will slip from the summit after 84 straight weeks at the top. She's been ranked No.1 for 103 weeks overall.
Ariya, 21, becomes the 10th player to reach No.1 since the women's rankings were introduced in 2006 and the first from Thailand.
She will officially take the top spot today when the new rankings are published.
She triumphed in five tournaments last year, including the Women's British Open, but has not yet won one this year.
The Bangkok native finished joint 21st in her previous tournament at the Volvik Championship last week.
It could be the best week in golf for the Jutanugarn family as older sister Moriya could secure her first LPGA win at the ShopRite Classic.
Moriya shot a one-under-par 70 in the second round for a 135 total to stay joint third with South Korea's Lee Jeong-Eun (70) and two-time defending champion Anna Nordqvist (71) of Sweden.
Moriya said she had played some solid golf so far.
"I was very patient out there today. The winds picked up in the afternoon and the greens started to get bumpy with a lot more people walking around. I just had to be patient," she said.
"It's hang in there today, and then tomorrow [this morning, Thai time] if I have a solid day it would be good for me.
"I want to be myself on the golf course and just keep having fun. I just hope I can play another solid day."
Both Kim and Creamer signed for four-under par 67s.
Kim, seeking a fifth LPGA title and her first since a win in China in October had six birdies and two bogeys.
She closed out her round with back-to-back birdies and said she's feeling "even stronger" after a winter spent rehabbing injuries suffered in a freak fall down some stairs.
She's played just half a dozen tournaments in 2017, but said she had recovered well.
"This winter I didn't have any break, I needed some time to get ready for the summer," Kim said. "I'm really happy to get back."
Creamer posted five birdies and a bogey, and kept her share of the lead with an up and down for par at her final hole, the ninth -- where her second shot landed left of the green and she took an unplayable lie.
"I've only had one bogey in the last two days," Creamer said. "I've missed just three greens today. I've given myself a lot of opportunities and I like playing a little tougher conditions."
Nordqvist said: "I feel like I'm hitting the shots I need to hit. [It's] just a matter of making a few more putts.I have nothing to lose tomorrow. I obviously like this track, so I'm excited." bangkok post/agencies