Advertisement

Inbee Park takes the week off, will become No. 1 in Rolex Rankings

Stacy Lewis and Inbee Park are Nos. 1 and 2 in the Rolex Rankings, and neither are competing in this week's inaugural Blue Bay LPGA in China. However, when the rankings are released Monday, Park will overtake Lewis as the world's top-ranked female player.

The ranking formula, which covers a rolling two-year period and devalues past performance over time, will swing in Park's favor because an event she played this week in 2012 will no longer count toward the number of event she has played in the last 104 weeks. Lewis' tally will not change. Already in a statistical dead heat for the top spot in the world -- separated this week by a miniscule 0.0062 points -- that small change in the formula gives the edge to Park.

Lewis' current reign will end after 21 weeks atop the rankings. She took over on June 2 after a win in Atlantic City, ending Park's reign of 59 weeks.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Lydia Ko is helpless this week. Even if she wins the Blue Bay LPGA, she cannot overtake Park for the top spot. However, it may well be an inevitability Ko becomes No. 1 in the next year.


Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.