NAPLES, Fla. – Moments after Jeeno Thitikul finished polishing her newest trophy, she turned to assembled media and asked, “Is anybody hungry?”
The woman who’d just clinched the largest check in women’s golf history flashed that million-dollar smile. It wasn’t all that long ago that Thitikul took her job too seriously and put too much pressure on herself. The smile was gone.
At 21 years old, however, she’s figured out that golf isn’t life or death, and it’s paying off in a big way.
On Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship, Thitikul poured in a 25-foot putt for eagle on the 17th hole and knocked a 6-iron to 5 feet on the last to clip Angel Yin by one stroke and claim the $4 million prize. The gutsy performance came after she won $1 million earlier this week for claiming the Aon Risk Reward Challenge.
That’s $5 million in one week.
And yet, the thought that popped into Thitikul’s mind as she stepped onto the 18th tee at Tiburon Golf Club Sunday was that it’s not about the money.
“That word like pop up in my mind on 18 tee box, that we not here for prize money,” said Thitikul. “We’re here for like grow(ing) the game of golf.”
Jeeno, are you joking?! 🤯
This approach sets her up for birdie on 18 pic.twitter.com/fpFlgK6Ibx
— LPGA (@LPGA) November 24, 2024
Thitikul played Sunday’s round alongside her best friend on tour, Ruoning Yin and Angel Yin (not related). Both Thitikul and Yin began the 2024 season late due to injury, with Thitikul suffering from a painful left thumb and Yin a broken ankle.
“I think the best thing in my life that happened this year, it’s [being] injured,” said Thitikul. “And also the worst thing. But it taught me a lot this year.”
CME Group Tour Championship: Leaderboard | Photos
Thitikul’s eagle-birdie finish gave her a 7-under 65 on Sunday for a 22-under total. Angel Yin closed with a 66 to finish one back, good for a $1 million payday.
“Hopefully I don’t break any body parts starting the offseason,” Yin joked after the round, “and maybe we’ll get some positive for next season.”
Thitikul, now a four-time winner on the LPGA, laughs each time she tells reporters not to tell her parents that she’s spending all the money. The Thai sensation started Black Friday shopping after she earned the $1 million bonus and had plans to visit Disney World with friends, including Ruoning Yin, after she left Naples. Thitikul and Yin teamed up to win the Dow Championship earlier this year.
Not surprisingly, Thitikul set a new single-season earnings record with $6,059,309, topping the record held by Lorena Ochoa in 2007 of $4,364,994. A total of 34 players crossed the $1 million mark in earnings this season.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda wrapped up her sensational season with a share of fifth, closing with a bogey-free 66. She became the first American to win seven LPGA titles in one season since Beth Daniel in 1990. In any other year, her $4,391,930 would’ve topped the money list.
“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,” said Korda.
“But proud of the way I played this year. Proud of the way I bounced back after the middle of the year to win in Tampa. And, yeah, just motivated and eager to get next year going again.”
Lydia Ko didn’t even qualify for the CME last year and came in this year as one of the hottest players on tour. The most recent member of LPGA Hall of Fame closed out her fairy-tale season with a 9-under 63, moving up to solo third at 17 under. Ko earned $550,000 for her efforts.
“It was kind of the best way I could hope to end my official season,” said Ko, who like many players in the field this week will be back at Tiburon next month for the Grant Thornton Invitational, where she’ll defend with partner Jason Day. Thitikul will be paired with three-time PGA Tour winner Tom Kim.
“Especially with this tournament being a very special place for me, I really wanted to finish on a high. To be able to do that, it’s definitely a great way it wrap it up.”
Three players bid farewell to full-time competition on Sunday: Lexi Thompson, Ally Ewing and Marina Alex. While Thompson and Ewing made their announcements earlier in the season, only Alex’s close circle friends and family knew this would be final season.
Alex, a two-time winner on tour, closed with a 66 to finish tied for 12th while Ewing tied for 16th. A total of 12 players have decided to step away from full-time competition after this season.
