Lydia Ko has returned to the top of the world golf rankings in imperious fashion with a dominant nine-shot victory in the LPGA Taiwan Championship.
The 18-year-old New Zealander fired a seven-under 65 on Sunday to end on 20-under as she continued her stellar recent form.
Ko has now claimed three wins, including her first major, in her past five starts, and has placed outside the top four only once in her last eight tournaments.
The victory in Taipei was also her 10th on the LPGA Tour, making her the youngest player to get to double figures.
Ko headed into the final day at the Miramar Golf and Country Club knowing that finishing runner-up would be enough for her to regain the world No.1 ranking, supplanting South Korean Inbee Park.
Starting with a four-shot lead over the rest of the field, she quickly consolidated her position with four birdies over the first six holes.
Her only slip-up during her round was a dropped shot on the par-three seventh.
At the par-five 12th, she chipped in for eagle to extend her advantage to seven shots, and there were further birdies on the 14th and 18th at the course where she secured her first win as a professional in late 2013.
In a distant tie for second were South Koreans So Yeon Ryu and Eun-Hee Ji.
Minjee Lee was the best-placed Australian, finishing in a tie for tenth at two-under for the tournament after a final round of two-under 70.
In February Ko, as a 17-year-old, she became the youngest golfer, either male of female, to hold the top ranking and she kept it until June.
