And so history repeats itself. Once again this year, Jin-Young Ko arrives at Evian as a huge favourite. It's a status she maintains from one season to the next, regardless of any challenges or growing competition. Yet the world number one hasn't won a Major since The Amundi Evian Championship 2019, almost four years ago – quite an anomaly for a player of her calibre.

Where it all began

2019, a masterclass

With not a single missed cut, twelve top 10 finishes and four victories, including two Majors, Jin-Young Ko’s record speaks for itself: in 2019, she (over)dominated women’s world golf. A symphony performed to perfection, with a conductor more magnificent than ever. The year had barely begun and the South Korean had already elevated her discipline with her astounding talent, finishing on five of the first six podiums in the tournaments she contested. After winning the Bank of Hope Founders Cup, she repeated the feat two weeks later at the ANA Inspiration, her first Major. While the PGA Tour was still in search of a king, although delighted to see Tiger back in the green jacket, the LPGA Tour had found its queen. In sparkling form, Jin-Young Ko put in a repeat performance at Evian in July. The frenetic pace of the latest Major winner was far too much for her opponents, who could only bow to their rival’s prowess. With a two-shot lead and the admiration of a crowd that had eyes only for her, the South Korean added a second major victory to her honours list when she triumphed at The Amundi Evian Championship. Two weeks later, she added a fourth and final title to her 2019 season, which remains her most memorable to date. A vintage year, the likes of which we have rarely enjoyed.

A four-year drought

As any top athlete in history will tell you, when you win a leading international competition, you need to fully appreciate it. This is particularly true in golf where sporting performance is just one factor among many others in the quest for success. Except for Rory McIlroy, Jin-Young Ko probably knows this better than anyone.  The South Korean, now aged 27, has not held high a major championship trophy for four years, an eternity for a player whose participation in the late Sunday rounds have become par for the course. Just imagine: since her Evian win in 2019, she has competed in fourteen majors and produced seven top-10 finishes. Staggering statistics even though none of them have led to a third Grand Slam title. For all of her career achievements, for all that she represents and for all her fans around the world, we hope to see her a major championship winner again. So goodbye to just missing out on victory for so many years, it’s time to get back on track.