Jeeno Thitikul, with an impressive performance, is shaping up as the big favorite to win the CME Group Tour Championship. The Thai golfer achieved nine birdies for the second consecutive day, culminating in a round of 64 strokes (-8) that allowed her to extend her lead to six strokes heading into the final round. Thitikul, currently the number one in women’s golf, is one step away from winning all the LPGA Tour awards, in addition to the juicy check for 4 million dollars for the winner. The player has practically secured the LPGA Player of the Year award and the Vare Trophy, awarded to the lowest scoring average. In addition, she could set a new LPGA record, depending on her performance in the final round. Nelly Korda, with a round of 65 strokes, failed to close the gap and is six strokes behind the leader, as is Pajaree Anannarukarn, also from Thailand, who matched Korda’s score at the Tiburon Golf Club. Thitikul has a total of 196 strokes (-22). The golfer, who already won the tournament last year with a score of -22, has made it clear that her work is not yet finished.
After a bogey on the first hole, Thitikul reacted with four birdies in five holes to regain momentum. In the second half of the round, she strung together four consecutive birdies to secure her place at the top. The final showdown pits the two best players in the world against each other, but Thitikul’s superiority throughout the week suggests a clear dominance.“Trying to make birdies and birdies and birdies”
Jeeno Thitikul
“I just tried to do the same thing. Trying to go for the fairway, trying to find the best we can to get close to the hole and then make the putt. Simple strategy”.
Jeeno ThitikulThe Thai golfer has accumulated 24 birdies in 54 holes this week, with only five missed fairways and six missed greens in the final round. Korda, with a six-stroke deficit, doesn’t plan to change his strategy on Sunday.This is your last chance to avoid your second winless season in three years on the LPGA. The exception was last year, when she won seven times, including a second major. Anannarukarn, the last player to qualify for the season-ending tournament, where the 60 participants have the opportunity to win the $4 million prize, made an eagle on the sixth hole and is making the most of her opportunity.“You’re competing hard and trying to win, but you also have to not get ahead of yourself and play the game. Because if you start to get ahead of yourself a little bit and push too hard, those mistakes start to appear and it’s not going to be beneficial.”
Nelly Korda“Pretty cool. Going into this week, I think it was a good opportunity that I had and with the way I’ve been playing this season, I’m very happy with the way I’ve been playing. It’s incredible to see the results show and move in a good direction.”
Pajaree AnannarukarnSei Young Kim, who played in the final group with Thitikul, had to settle for a 68, leaving her seven strokes behind in fourth place. Gaby López, from Mexico, signed the best round of the week, with a 62. But everything points to Thitikul, who has the possibility of joining Jin Young Ko as the only consecutive winners of the CME Group Tour Championship.
