Thitikul Sets Record in LPGA Final: Close to Title and $4 Million

Jeeno Thitikul leads the CME Group Tour Championship with an impressive round

Jeeno Thitikul delivered a performance worthy of the number one in women’s golf, signing a card of 63 strokes, nine under par, to take a three-stroke lead at the CME Group Tour Championship. The Thai star is approaching another $4 million prize and the LPGA Player of the Year award. Thitikul, defending champion, is at 14 under par, 130 total strokes.

Better than yesterday, for sure,” Thitikul said with a smile. “I have no complaints, no bogeys and nine birdies. I’ll take it.

Jeeno Thitikul

Nelly Korda, who Thitikul replaced at the top of the world ranking earlier this year, achieved a 64 that placed her at the top of the leaderboard. However, she finished five strokes away. Somi Lee, who began the LPGA season finale with a 64, had a bogey on the first par-5 hole and never really took off. She made two birdies in her last five holes to save a 70 that left the South Korean four strokes behind, along with Nasa Hataoka (67). Thitikul’s game was impressive, achieving four consecutive birdies and six birdies in eight holes. She played alongside Sei Young Kim, who made six birdies in the last nine holes of the Tiburon Golf Club for a 66.

In nine holes, Jeeno is five strokes ahead,” Kim said. “I try to make a lot of birdies, especially in the last nine. She is incredible. She turned every hole into a birdie opportunity. She is a great player. I make the birdie and she makes the birdie.

Sei Young Kim

Thitikul and Yamashita are the only players with multiple victories this year. Korda still hasn’t won this year after a season with seven titles in 2024, and he got off to a slow start at the Tour Championship. But he saw many birdie putts from 10 to 15 feet in the second round and became an early target.

Seven players were within five strokes of Thitikul with 36 holes to play, a group that includes Brooke Henderson and Minjee Lee. The winner will take home $4 million, the richest prize in women’s golf.

Thitikul shot 22 under par last year and still only won by one stroke. The previous year, Amy Yang set a tournament record by winning with 27 under par, 261 strokes. Therefore, she realizes she needs to keep the birdies coming.

As I always say, all the winners here, the score is like 20-something, which is very low,” Thitikul said. “We just need to do more and more and more.”

Jeeno Thitikul