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Lydia Ko shoots for 3rd straight win as Inbee Park defends world No. 1

October 7, 2015
Lydia Ko, left, is looking for her third win in three consecutive starts at the 2015 Sime Darby Malaysia Open, while Park Inbee looks to defend her world No. 1 position. (AP Photos)

Lydia Ko, left, is looking for her third win in three consecutive starts at the 2015 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, while Park Inbee looks to defend her world No. 1 position. (AP Photos)

By Brian Han

The PGA Tour may have finished its season in dramatic style, but the LPGA still has seven events to go.

The ladies will kick off the Asia swing on Thursday at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia where China’s Shanshan Feng will defend her title.

The biggest story revolves around world No. 2 Lydia Ko who is coming off of her first career major win at the Evian Championship. She also won the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open back in August, which gives her the opportunity to win her third title in three consecutive appearances.

The Korean New Zealander showed signs of an ailing game in the middle of the season, which included missing a cut. But after rebounding with two late wins and 12 top-10 finishes, she managed to double her career earnings in 2015 to $4.28 million.

The 18-year-old will be looking to reclaim the world No. 1 rank from South Korean Park Inbee as well as her fifth win of the year.

Park is in the midst of crafting together a historic year after completing the career grand slam after winning the Women’s British Open in July.

Ko is the only golfer who is in striking distance of Park’s ranking, and there is a real possibility that they could switch spots by the end of the season considering the current state of Ko’s game.

Park won the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia back in 2012 by two strokes over runner-up Choi Na-yeon.