RANCHO MIRAGE: Lydia Ko, at 17 already the youngest golfer ever to reach number one in the world, will try to add a first major championship to her sparkling resume this week at the LPGA's ANA Inspiration.
A victory would make the South Korean-born New Zealander the youngest major champion in LPGA history, surpassing American Morgan Pressel who was 18 when she lifted the trophy on the same Mission Hills Country Club Dinah Shore Tournament course in 2007.
Although Ko hasn't finished in the top 25 in two prior appearances at Mission Hills, her remarkable recent consistency makes her the player to beat this week.
Ko brings a streak of 28 straight LPGA rounds under par into the tournament -- one shy of matching the record set by Swedish great Annika Sorenstam in 2004.
"I wish I had that," laughed American Lexi Thompson, who out-dueled Michelle Wie to lift the trophy here last year.
"There's not a weakness in her game," Thompson said of Ko. "She's very straight off the tee and has a great short game. It's great to play with her because she has a great attitude on the golf course, and probably the best tempo I've ever seen on a golf swing or a putting stroke."
A victory would also help Ko consolidate her position atop the world rankings, with former world number one Park In-Bee of South Korea threatening to unseat her with a win or even a runner-up finish -- depending on where Ko finishes.
- Park relishes major challenge -
Park, who won the title here in 2013, was looking forward to the challenge.
"It feels like it's been forever since we played in a major tournament," she said. "We're finally here and I feel like I'm in good form, so I'm very, very excited."
Park was pleased to see the rough up at Mission Hills, which promised to pose a tough challenge to any player who wants to take the traditional champion's leap into Poppie's Pond.
"I do like to see some longer rough and firm and fast greens for the major tournaments because we just don't get that every week," she said. "I think it's a good test because you have to hit the tee shot off the tee really straight and you have to judge the distance on the greens. I think because it is a major tournament, we've got to have something different."
Thompson fired a four-under par 68 in the final round last year to collect her first career major in the tournament formerly known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Thompson hasn't won since while runner-up Wie went on to win the second major of 2014 at the US Women's Open.
Thompson is trying to join Sorenstam as the only players to win two straight titles at Mission Hills. Sorenstam did it in 2001 and 2002.
After finishing in a tie for 10th last week, Thompson believes her game is good enough to win, and said that if she's in contention on Sunday she'll be more comfortable after last year's triumph.
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