Jeeno Thitikul Dominates CME Group Tour Championship with a Spectacular Round
In a game demonstration worthy of the world’s number one, Jeeno Thitikul leads the CME Group Tour Championship with a three-stroke lead after an impressive round of 9 under par, signing a 63. The Thai star is approaching another $4 million prize and the LPGA Player of the Year title. Competition is fierce, with Nelly Korda, who was displaced by Thitikul in the world ranking earlier this year, achieving a 64 that placed her at the top of the standings until Thitikul entered the action. Korda, seeking her first victory of the year, is five strokes behind the leader. Thitikul displayed a dominant game, chaining four consecutive birdies and adding six birdies in a stretch of eight holes. Her playing partner, Sei Young Kim, tried to keep up the pace, finishing with six birdies in the second half of the Tiburon Golf Club course, for a total of 66 strokes. The current champion, Thitikul, accumulated a total of 14 under par, with a performance that exceeded her own expectations.Somi Lee, who started the tournament with a round of 64, stumbled on the first hole and never managed to regain momentum, finishing with a 70 that left her four strokes behind the leader, along with Nasa Hataoka (67). Thitikul’s game was the center of attention, with Kim struggling to keep up in a warm day with favorable conditions on the greens, which allowed for a high score. The pair combined birdies on all but two holes in the last 11 holes they played. Thitikul leads the ranking for the LPGA Player of the Year award. The only player who could surpass her is Miyuu Yamashita, champion of the Women’s British Open, who signed a 69 and is nine strokes behind the leader. Korda, despite his impressive 2024 season, has yet to achieve a victory this year. In the second round, Korda notably improved his short game, which put him in a competitive position. Thitikul started her birdie streak with two 10-foot putts on holes eight and nine. Then, she placed her approach shot inches from the hole on hole 10 and on hole 11, the most difficult on the course. Seven players are five strokes behind Thitikul, including Brooke Henderson and Minjee Lee. The winner will take home $4 million, the highest prize in women’s golf. Thitikul is aware of the need to maintain her birdie pace to secure the victory.“Better than yesterday, for sure,” Thitikul affirmed with a smile. “I can’t complain, no bogeys and with nine birdies. I’ll take it.”
Jeeno Thitikul
