Jeeno Thitikul Closes an Exceptional Year with a Historic Triumph at the CME Group Tour Championship
Golfer Jeeno Thitikul capped off her best year with the biggest prize in women’s golf and secured her place in the LPGA record books, setting the lowest scoring average in the history of the circuit, in its 75 years of existence. Despite the apparent ease with which she achieved victory with a four-stroke lead at the CME Group Tour Championship, Thitikul remembers that the path was not always easy.In addition, a wrist injury suffered the previous week, at the Dallas course, kept her in doubt to complete the four rounds at Tiburon Golf Club. However, she limited her practice sessions to be able to participate. “I think at the beginning of the week I was just hoping to get through the four rounds of golf here, that was more than I could ask for,” he said. “But to be here with the trophy on Sunday is more than I could really ask for, for sure.”“I had to put an ice pack on my eyes because I cried a lot.”
Jeeno Thitikul
What I didn’t know was how close the competition was on Sunday. Anannarukarn, who played in the previous group, managed five birdies in seven holes at the beginning to reduce the difference to two strokes. The lead remained at two strokes going into the second round.“I never dreamed of having that record,” he said. “To be able to have the lowest scoring average in my entire career is truly amazing.”
Jeeno Thitikul
But Thitikul birdied holes 10 and 13, and Anannarukarn faltered on the par-3 12th. The lead went back to five strokes and Thitikul had the victory secured. She didn’t look at the leaderboard until she reached the 17th hole, unaware that her Thai compatriot was breathing down her neck.
Thitikul raised both arms when the last birdie fell, and shortly after she was soaked with champagne on the 18th hole green. Thitikul, who finished with a total of 26 under par (262), 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, a result that was already decided, as Women’s Open champion Miyu Yamashita would have had to win. Korda, replaced by Thitikul at 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. He faced a big disadvantage starting the day six strokes behind and fell further behind with a bogey and no birdies on the first nine holes. He managed an eagle on the 11th hole and shot 31 on the back nine for a 68, finishing in third place. Korda still has the mixed-team Grant Thornton Invitational and the PNC Championship with his father next month. When asked how he would describe the year, Korda said: “Hard work.”“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
