New Zealand's Lydia Ko will relinquish her world number one ranking on Monday, ending an 84-week reign at the top of women's golf.

Ko, 20, is not playing in this week's LPGA Classic in New Jersey, which means she is certain to be overtaken by either Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn or South Korea's So Yeon Ryu.

Photo: Photosport

With Jutanugarn also skipping the event, Ryu can grab the top ranking if she either wins in New Jersey, finishes in a two- or three-way tie for second or comes outright third.

Otherwise, Jutanugarn will be number one.

Either way, it will mark the 10th different number one since the rankings were created in 2006, after Annika Sorenstam, Lorena Ochoa, Shin Ji-yai, Ai Miyazato, Cristie Kerr, Yani Tseng, Stacy Lewis, Park In-bee and Ko.

Ryu leads the LPGA money list after a stellar start to the season, highlighted by a victory at the year's first major, the ANA Inspiration, where her playoff win over Lexi Thompson was overshadowed by the American's penalty for replacing her ball in the wrong spot on a putting green during the third round.

- Reuters