Jeeno Thitikul breaks records on LPGA: Victory, $4M and historic average

In Naples, Florida, Jeeno Thitikul capped off her best year with the biggest reward in women’s golf, solidifying her place in LPGA history by recording the lowest scoring average in the circuit’s 75-year history. Despite the apparent ease with which she achieved victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, with a four-stroke lead, Thitikul remembers that the path was not always easy. Two months ago, a finish with four putts cost her the title at the Kroger Queen City Championship.

I had to put ice on my eyes because I cried a lot.

Jeeno Thitikul

In addition, a wrist injury, suffered the previous week in Dallas, made her doubt whether she could complete the four days of competition at Tiburon Golf Club, let alone win. This forced her to reduce her practice sessions.

I think at the beginning of the week I was just thinking about being able to finish four rounds of golf here, it was already more than I could ask for. But being here with the trophy on Sunday, it’s more than I could really ask for, for sure.

Jeeno Thitikul

In the field, Thitikul showed the same dominance as the number one in women’s golf.

With a six-stroke lead over Nelly Korda at the start of the final round at Tiburon Golf Club, Thitikul withstood the initial challenge from Pajaree Anannarukarn with two birdies at the start of the second nine holes, securing the title with a score of 68 strokes, four under par, and earning her second consecutive victory at the CME Group Tour Championship. This earned her another check for $4 million, the biggest prize in women’s golf, bringing her season earnings to $7,578,300. The final birdie from 10 feet allowed her to break Annika Sorenstam’s scoring record by the narrowest margin: 68.681 for Thitikul, against Sorenstam’s 68.697 in 2002.

I never dreamed of having that record. And now, to be able to have the lowest scoring average in my entire career, is truly incredible.

Jeeno Thitikul

What I didn’t know was how close the competition was on Sunday. Anannarukarn, playing in the previous group, achieved five birdies in seven holes at the beginning, reducing the difference to two strokes. The advantage remained at two strokes when reaching the second nine holes. However, Thitikul birdied holes 10 and 13, while Anannarukarn bogeyed hole 12. The lead extended to five strokes, securing the victory for Thitikul. Thitikul, who finished with a total of 26 under par, 262 strokes, joins Jin Young Ko as the only consecutive winners of the CME Group Tour Championship. The victory also secured her the LPGA Player of the Year award, a result that was already determined. Korda, who was displaced by Thitikul from number 1 in women’s golf, became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2010 to go from seven wins in a season to none in the following one. Korda, who started the day six strokes behind, struggled with a bogey and no birdies on the first nine holes. He made an eagle on the 11th hole and a card of 31 on the second nine, finishing with a 68 to finish in third place. Korda still has the Grant Thornton Invitational mixed-team event and the PNC Championship with her father next month. When asked about the year, Korda described it as “a challenge”.

I feel like there were a lot of ups and downs and it made me grow a lot mentally, and I would say that I am also very grateful because success is never linear.

Nelly Korda