Jeeno Thitikul Conquers Shanghai with an Epic Comeback
In a display of skill and determination, Jeeno Thitikul won the LPGA Shanghai, becoming the first player to win two LPGA tournaments this season. The Thai golfer staged a spectacular comeback from four strokes behind in the last five holes, forcing a playoff against Minami Katsu and sealing her victory with an extraordinary shot on the fifth playoff hole. Thitikul, world number one, signed an impressive card of 63 strokes, the best round of the day, with seven birdies and an eagle. Her performance, with a cumulative score of 24 under par (264 strokes), shortened the lead that seemed comfortable for Katsu, leader at the beginning of the day. The Japanese player, who started the day with a two-stroke lead and extended it to four after the 13th hole, saw her advantage vanish in the face of Thitikul’s onslaught. The Thai player responded with birdies on holes 14, 15 and 16, and an incredible eagle on the 17th hole, where the ball rolled across the green of the Qizhong Garden Golf Club in Shanghai, to tie the score. Katsu, with a round of 65, could only respond with a birdie on the 17th hole and had another opportunity on the final hole to secure the victory, but the ball slipped, forcing a tiebreaker. In the first four playoff holes, played between holes 18 and 10, both players made pars. Katsu had two birdie opportunities to win, but narrowly missed on both occasions. The tiebreaker was decided on the fifth hole, when Thitikul executed a brilliant approach that left the ball a meter from the hole, while Katsu’s second shot fell short of the green on the par 4 of the 18th hole. Katsu’s chip for birdie was impressive, but it missed, leaving Thitikul with a simple putt for birdie and sealing a memorable victory.This victory marks Thitikul’s second triumph of the season, after winning the Mizuho Americas Open in May, and served to alleviate the disappointment of her inexplicable collapse on the last hole of the Kroger Queen City Championship last month. Minjee Lee, winner of her third major title at the Women’s PGA Championship in June, signed a card of 68 strokes on Sunday, finishing with a total of 19 under par (269 strokes) and a third place. Jenny Bae, from the United States, with a round of 69, tied for fourth place with Miyu Yamashita (67) from Japan and Somi Lee (69) from South Korea, with a total of 17 under par (271 strokes). Defending champion Ruoning Yin of China completed the final round with 68 strokes, finishing in a tie for 26th place. The Shanghai event is the first of five tournaments in Asia, followed by two weeks in South Korea, including the International Crown team event, and tournaments in Malaysia and Japan.“What happened at the last event is still on my mind, but being able to prove myself again in this tournament is… like a dream come true, and I’m not carrying anything on my shoulders,” declared Thitikul.
Jeeno Thitikul
