Down by two shots with just two holes to go, Jeeno Thitikul knew exactly what she needed to do to secure the biggest prize in women’s golf history. And with another eagle-birdie finish, she made it happen, winning the CME Group Tour Championship and claiming the record-setting $4 million first-place check.
Thitikul’s epic win came after shooting a stellar 7-under 65 on Sunday, finishing the week at 22 under, just one shot ahead of Angel Yin. Despite Yin having a two-shot lead walking to the 17th tee, she had to settle for the $1 million runner-up check in the end.
The final showdown between Thitikul and Yin came down to the 18th hole, with both players tied at 21 under. Thitikul’s approach shot was nearly perfect, landing just 5 feet from the cup, while Yin’s response fell about 15 feet away. Thitikul’s birdie putt sealed the deal, making history and claiming the massive prize.
For Thitikul, the win was more than she could have asked for, and the $4 million check will surely be put to good use. She also earned a $1 million bonus through the Aon Risk-Reward Challenge this week, making it a whopping $5 million week for the 21-year-old from Thailand.
Thitikul’s victory was hard-earned, with birdies on two of the first three holes giving her an early lead. Despite some back-and-forth on the leaderboard, she managed to come out on top with an eagle-birdie finish that solidified her win.
Other notable performances at the CME Group Tour Championship included Olympic gold medalist Lydia Ko finishing third at 17 under, Ruoning Yin in fourth at 16 under, and LPGA player of the year Nelly Korda finishing at 15 under.
As the sun set over Tiburon on Sunday, Thitikul celebrated her well-deserved victory and looked forward to her offseason with a sense of accomplishment. With the massive prize money in her pocket, she can now enjoy a well-deserved break and perhaps treat herself to a celebratory meal at any restaurant of her choice.
