Jeeno Thitikul wins LPGA Tour Championship by one shot
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Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand reacting after making a putt for birdie on the 18th green to win the LPGA Tour Championship 2024 on Nov 24.
PHOTO: AFP
MIAMI – Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul fired a seven-under 65 to claim a one-shot win at the LPGA Tour Championship and the US$4 million (S$5.4 million) top prize, the largest in professional women’s golf history, on Nov 24 in Naples, Florida.
Tied with Angel Yin entering the final round at Tiburon Golf Club, Jeeno birdied three of her first seven holes and finished strong, sinking an eagle on the par-five No. 17 before closing her round with a birdie on No. 18.
“Actually, I don’t know what happened to me on 17 and 18,” Jeeno said after her fourth LPGA Tour win. “I mean, (if) I make a birdie on 17, which is giving me a good chance.
“But having an eagle, it’s more than I can ask for. And then hitting really, really good second shot on 18 and hole the putt. It’s just like, you know, all the hard work that I’ve put in has paid off.”
Also known as Atthaya, before going with her nickname, Jeeno racked up six birdies, one eagle and one bogey, on the par-four No. 4 hole, to close at 22-under 266 in the LPGA’s season finale.
With the win, the 21-year-old also clinched the Race to the CME Globe, in which LPGA members accumulate points in every tournament of the season.
Together with a season-long US$1 million bonus for her play on single specific holes throughout the season, Jeeno took home US$5 million this week and has plans for her huge windfall.
“Definitely spend it,” she said with a laugh. “That’s an honest answer for sure.
“Definitely going to spend it for a little while, but like saving it for my parents as well. Because I told them that I’m shopping a lot. Don’t tell my parents that I’ve been spending all the money.”
Yin played a bogey-free 66 to finish one shot behind and bagged US$1 million as the runner-up.
“Lots of positives, hitting it good,” said the American. “I’m happy because this is a golf course that I’m not very fond of and never played well. I think this is my best finish ever.”
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko posted the round of the day, notching a nine-under 63 and moving up nine spots to finish third, five spots off the lead. Ko delivered nine birdies, including three in a row from Nos. 7 to 9.
China’s Yin Ruoning (68) finished fourth, followed by world No. 1 Nelly Korda (66) and An Na-rin (68) of South Korea in a tie for fifth. Korda sank six birdies in a bogey-free round, but could not catch the leaders after a first-round 72.
“Motivated definitely, and just excited and proud of how this year went,” Korda said. “Never in a million years would I have thought last year, 365 days ago, I would be here with seven wins in one season and another Major championship.”
Lexi Thompson, who had announced that this would be her last full season on tour, shot a two-over 74 and finished in a tie for 49th at two-under 286.
“Yeah, it was very emotional,” said the 29-year-old American. “Really wasn’t until I got to No. 9 for some reason. Kind of all hit me.”
On the men’s circuit, a final-round two-under 68 helped American Maverick McNealy earn his first PGA Tour title on Nov 24, edging out three players by one shot at the RSM Classic on St Simons Island, Georgia.
The 29-year-old finished on 16-under 266, just ahead of amateur Luke Clanton (66), Nico Echavarria of Colombia (65) and compatriot Daniel Berger (67). REUTERS, AFP
