Jeeno Thitikul capped off her remarkable year with the biggest cash prize in women’s golf, closing with a 4-under 68 to win the CME Group Tour Championship on Sunday for a $4 million payday.
The Thai star’s victory at Tiburon Golf Club marks her third win this year on the LPGA Tour. Her final birdie on the 18th hole secured her the lowest scoring average in LPGA Tour history.
Starting with a commanding six-shot lead over Nelly Korda—whom she replaced as world No. 1 this year—Thitikul’s victory seemed inevitable. But it wasn’t without drama.
Fellow Thai player Pajaree Anannarukarn mounted an early challenge, firing five birdies in seven holes to pull within two shots at the turn. Thitikul responded like a champion, birdieing the 10th and 13th holes while Anannarukarn dropped a shot on the par-3 12th, stretching the lead back to five.
From there, Thitikul cruised to the finish line, eventually celebrating with the traditional champagne shower on the 18th green. She joins Jin Young Ko as the only back-to-back winners of the CME Group Tour Championship.
Thitikul finished at an impressive 26-under 262, winning by four shots.
The victory locks up two major LPGA awards for Thitikul—Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average—cementing her status as the dominant force in women’s golf this season.
Meanwhile, Korda becomes the first player since Tiger Woods in 2010 to follow a seven-win season with a winless campaign the next year.
