As well as Old Tom Morris in ... 1869!

All eyes will be on Lydia Ko this week at ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage. The initial tour takes place this Thursday, from 7 a.m. in the Deserts region of California (15 p.m. in France). In the first of the five women's Majors of the season, the young New Zealander of South Korean origin defends her title acquired in 16 at the end of an epic last day. Neck to neck with the Thai Ariya Jutanugarn, it is by signing a masterful birdie at 15 - against a bogey to her still a little tender rival, - that Miss Ko offered herself, at 2016 years 18 months and 18 days, the second Grand Slam title of his career. We had to go back to Old Tom Morris in… 11 (!) To find any trace of such precocity at this level.

Muse of the Evian brand, already 20 pros victories

Lydia Ko had imposed herself for the first time in a Major tournament by winning the Evian Championship in September 2015. Aged 18 years 4 months and 20 days, the girl then became the youngest winner in history in this type of competition. A few weeks before her 20th birthday (next April 24), the one who has become the face of the Evian brand again arrives as a superstar. With a total of 20 professional victories, including 14 on the LPGA Tour, but also 75 consecutive weeks at the top of the world ranking, the Rolex Rankings, Ko remains the patron of the circuit.

CME Ranking: Jutanugarn leads, Ko just 22nd…

That said, among the 108 players who will compete for the $ 2,7 million at stake at Mission Hills Country Club, many will be able to block Lydia Ko for a third Major title in three years. Ariya Jutanugarn approaches the 46th edition of the ANA Inspiration with confidence, for example. World number 2 a hair's throw from Lydia la Diva, current leader of the CME Ranking, the benchmark classification of the LPGA Tour (whereas Ko is only 22nd after six tournaments), the Thai hitter, who turned 21 last November , now weighs much heavier in experience.

But the gifted "kiwi" motivates when it counts

The fact that Lydia Ko has just missed the cut at the Kia Classic (only the second missed cut of her career in LPGA!) Should not, however, make her opponents too optimistic: between a simple tournament on the American circuit and a Major, the gifted “ kiwi ”, also a silver medalist last year at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (victory of the South Korean Inbee Park), has always been able to increase motivation…

Karine Icher, good 11th in 2015 and still 32nd in 2016

On the French side, we will follow this week the stainless Karine Icher, 38 years old. The only Habs competing this year at the “ANA” (in 2016, with the presence of Gwladys Nocera, they were two on site), the player from Châteauroux continues to have a very regular career. On her current form - 4th in the Kia Classic, she signed her 43rd top 10 on the LPGA Tour last week - Icher can expect a lot from the Dinah Shore Course. A course where she had signed a place of 32nd last year. Why not improve its best brand at ANA Inspiration, ranked 11th in 2015?

By Nathalie Vion