Thitikul Sets LPGA Record and Wins $4M at the CME Group Tour Championship

Jeeno Thitikul capped off her best year with the biggest award in women’s golf, solidifying her place in LPGA history with 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. In the past, she suffered a complicated closing at the Kroger Queen City Championship, which led her to express her frustration.

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

Jeeno Thitikul

In addition, a wrist injury suffered in Dallas, due to the firm ground, put his participation in the four rounds of the final tournament at Tiburon Golf Club in doubt, let alone his ability to win. Therefore, he reduced his practice sessions to recover.

At the beginning of the week, I was just hoping to be able to complete the four rounds of golf here, it was already more than I could ask for. But to be here on Sunday with the trophy is more than I could really ask for.

Jeeno Thitikul

During the tournament, Thitikul proved to be the number one player 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 birdies on the first holes of the second half of the course, securing the title with a round of 68 strokes, four under par. This victory earned her another prize of 4 million dollars, the highest in women’s golf, raising her season earnings to 7,578,300 dollars. The final birdie, from 10 feet away, allowed her to surpass Annika Sorenstam’s record by a narrow margin: 68.681 for Thitikul, against 68.697 for Sorenstam 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 incredible.

Jeeno Thitikul

Anannarukarn, who played in the previous group, achieved five birdies in seven holes at the beginning, reducing the distance to two strokes. The two-stroke lead was maintained until the second half of the course. However, Thitikul birdied holes 10 and 13, while Anannarukarn added a stroke on the 12th hole. The lead extended to five strokes, securing the victory for Thitikul. Thitikul, who finished with a total of 26 under par, 262 strokes, joined 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. Korda, who was displaced by Thitikul in the world ranking, became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2010 to go from seven wins in a season to none in the following one. Korda, with an initial six-stroke deficit, had a difficult start with a bogey and no birdies in the first nine holes. She achieved an eagle on the 11th hole and a round of 31 strokes in the second half of the course, finishing with 68 strokes and obtaining third place. Korda described the year as “a challenge”.

There were many ups and downs, and that made me grow a lot mentally, and I am very grateful for it because success is never linear.

Nelly Korda