Former world No. 1 Ko Jin-young is turning back the clock at the LPGA Queen City Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio. The South Korean star fired a bogey-free 4-under 66 on Friday to grab a share of the halfway lead at Maketewah Country Club, showing the fearless form that once made her the most dominant player in women's golf.
Ko, who has 15 LPGA wins including two major championships, sits at 7-under 133 alongside American Amanda Doherty. Doherty finished strong with a birdie on the par-3 18th to match Ko's 66. Rising English star Lottie Woad is alone in third at 6-under 134 after an impressive 64, while New Zealand's Lydia Ko holds fourth at 5-under 135 following a 67.
The star power doesn't stop there. World No. 1 Nelly Korda and No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul headline a group tied at 4-under, keeping the leaderboard packed with elite talent heading into the weekend.
For Ko Jin-young, this tournament represents more than just another chance at victory—it's a return to her roots. Once ranked No. 1 for a record 163 weeks, she has since fallen to 51st in the world rankings and is searching for her first LPGA win since 2023. The key, she says, is rediscovering the boldness of her younger self.
"Just trying to not be afraid to make bogey," Ko explained. "I just want to be brave. When I first came on tour in 2018, I wasn't scared before I hit the shot. But getting older, I'm a little more afraid and think too much about it."
Interestingly, it was her husband—whom she married just two months ago—who helped her realize what had changed. He asked her last week why she seemed so nervous before her shots, a question that struck a chord with the perfectionist competitor.
"I think I was scared to play because I want to be better and better," Ko admitted. "I would say I'm a perfection person. That's why I don't want to make mistakes on the course. But after I heard that, I realized I'm a human, so I can make mistakes on the course."
With a more relaxed mindset and her trademark precision back on display, Ko Jin-young looks poised to contend this weekend—and maybe, just maybe, channel that fearless 2018 version of herself all the way to victory.