Jeeno Thitikul Dominates LPGA, Wins CME Group Tour Championship & Historic $4 Million Prize!
NAPLES, Fla. – Jeeno Thitikul has etched her name in LPGA history, capping off an incredible year with a dominant victory at the CME Group Tour Championship and securing a record-breaking $4 million payday! The world No. 1 player not only conquered the challenging Tiburon Golf Club but also set a new LPGA record for the lowest scoring average in the tour’s 75-year history.
From Tears to Triumph: Thitikul’s Resilient Journey
While her four-shot victory on Sunday made it look effortless, Thitikul’s road to success wasn’t without its bumps. Just two months ago, a heartbreaking four-putt finish cost her the Kroger Queen City Championship, leaving her in tears. To add to the drama, a wrist injury sustained the week before the CME Group Tour Championship threatened to derail her chances.
“I have the ice pack put in my eyes because I cried so bad,” Thitikul admitted, reflecting on the earlier setback.
The wrist injury forced her to curtail practice sessions, leaving her uncertain if she could even complete four rounds at Tiburon, let alone win. “I think earlier in the week I was just saying to be able to finish four rounds of golf here is just more than I could ask for already,” she confessed. “But standing here with the trophy on Sunday, it’s just like more than I really, really could ask for for sure.”
Dominant Performance at the CME Group Tour Championship
Despite the challenges, Thitikul showcased her dominance on the course. Starting the final day with a six-shot lead over Nelly Korda, she weathered an early challenge from fellow Thai player Pajaree Anannarukarn. Key birdies on the back nine solidified her lead, allowing her to cruise to a final-round 68 and secure her second consecutive CME Group Tour Championship title.
Record-Breaking Performance and Historic Payday
The victory came with a staggering $4 million check, the largest single prize in women’s golf, boosting her season earnings to an impressive $7,578,300. But the accolades didn’t stop there. A clutch birdie from 10 feet on the final hole allowed her to surpass Annika Sorenstam’s long-standing scoring record, achieving an astonishing 68.681 average, just edging out Sorenstam’s 68.697 from 2002.
“I mean, like never, ever dreaming having that record at all,” Thitikul exclaimed. “And then one time that I can be the lowest score average in my whole career should be really amazing.”
Thitikul’s Victory in Detail
Anannarukarn mounted a fierce challenge early on, carding five birdies in seven holes to close the gap to just two shots. However, Thitikul responded with birdies on the 10th and 13th holes, while Anannarukarn stumbled with a bogey on the par-3 12th. The lead was restored to five shots, and Thitikul never looked back.
As her final birdie putt dropped, Thitikul raised her arms in triumph, celebrating her historic victory with a champagne shower on the 18th green. Her final score of 26-under 262 matched Jin Young Ko as the only back-to-back winners of the CME Group Tour Championship.
Player of the Year Honors Secured
The win also solidified Thitikul’s status as the LPGA Player of the Year, an achievement that was already within reach as Women’s Open champion Miyu Yamashita needed to win the tournament to contend for the title.
Korda’s “Grind” and Future Plans
For Nelly Korda, the tournament marked the end of a challenging year. After a stellar season with seven wins in 2021, she faced a winless 2022. Despite the setbacks, Korda finished strong with an eagle on No. 11 and a back-nine score of 31, securing third place. Korda will next play at the mixed-team Grant Thornton Invitational and the PNC Championship with her father next month.
Describing her year, Korda simply stated, “A grind.” She added, “I feel like there was a lot of ups and downs and it made me grow a lot mentally, and I would say I’m just also very grateful for it because success is never linear.”
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