WOMEN’S World Golf Ranking number one Atthaya ‘Jeeno’ Thitikul crowned a spectacular season by winning the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship for the second year in a row.
Shrugging off a sore left wrist, the Thai ace carded rounds of 67, 63, 64 and 68 at Tiburon Golf Club, for a total of 26-under-par 262, finishing four shots ahead of compatriot Pajaree Anannarukarn at the US$11 million season-ender.
American Nelly Korda, the world number two, was third on 20-under 268, bringing to an end a frustrating season where she failed to record a victory after seven wins the previous year.
Four Australians were in the 60-player event, with Minjee Lee and Stephanie Kyriacou, who finished 12-under and in a tie for 13th the best placed. Grace Kim was in a group tied for 26th and Hannah Green 51st.
By defending her title, Thititkul chalked up her third win of 2025 and seventh career LPGA victory. The US$4 million winner’s cheque made her the fastest player to reach US$17 million in career earnings.
With the victory, Jeeno secured the LPGA Tour’s 2025 Rolex Player of the Year award and the Vare Trophy for low scoring average. Her scoring average of 68.681 set a new LPGA Tour single-season record, surpassing Annika Sorenstam’s 2002 average of 68.696.
Going into the final event of the season, the Player of the Year race came down to Jeeno and 2025 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Miyu Yamashita of Japan. Yamashita, the winner of the AIG Women’s Open and Maybank Championship in 2025 needed to win the CME Group Tour Championship to overtake the Thai star but finished tied for 36th.
Jeeno is the second player from Thailand to win the Rolex Player of the Year award since it was introduced in 1966.
“I think it’s just an honour. The Vare Trophy and Player of the Year are always going to be representing how consistent you are in the whole, long season. Holding that trophy, I just feel goosebumps because it’s had all the history about golf from all the players,” said Jeeno.
While now having won seven LPGA events, Thitikul has yet to capture a major championship, perhaps her best opportunity coming at the Evian Championship in 2025, when beaten in a playoff by a spectacular Grace Kim eagle.
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