Atthaya Thitikul (-22) has been crowned champion of the CME Group Tour Championship, the final tournament of the LPGA season. The Thai player, just 21 years old, claims the most important victory of her short but successful career in Florida. At her age, this is her fifteenth professional win, the fourth on the American circuit.
Atthaya, or Jeeno as she has requested to be called since this year, delivered a sensational finish at Tiburon Golf Course and turned around a tournament that seemed destined to fall into the hands of Angel Yin (-21).
The American arrived with a two-shot lead at the 17th tee thanks to a great round of six under par. At that moment, the figure of the Thai player emerged. A magical second shot on the par-five penultimate hole of the Naples course left her with a five-metre eagle chance, which she converted to level the contest.
They went to the 18th hole tied. Thitikul was already on a roll and didn’t hesitate, playing textbook golf again, and another great second iron left her with a practically made birdie. Angel Yin couldn’t match her rival’s precision, and Jeeno became the champion of the CME Group Tour Championship.
With her victory in the season’s final tournament, Thitikul pockets four million dollars, the largest prize in LPGA history. She adds to this a one million dollar prize after securing the Aon Risk Reward Challenge trophy. Five million in one week.
What’s the next challenge for the 21-year-old Thai player? Going for a Major. She already has 22 appearances in Majors and knows what it’s like to finish among the top ten in each of the five big ones. Almost one in three.
Lydia Ko (-19), champion of the Women’s Open 2024 and Olympic gold medallist in Paris, completed the tournament podium thanks to a spectacular round of 63 strokes.
On the other hand, Carlota Ciganda (-3) has closed the season on the American circuit with a great round at Tiburon Golf Course. The Navarrese player achieved her best round of the week this Sunday, signing a card of 68 strokes and finishing the tournament in 46th place.
However, these have not been the last 18 holes for the Spaniard in 2024, as it is not her season finale since she has confirmed her presence at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España taking place at Real Guadalhorce Club de Golf next week.
The World Number One, Nelly Korda, seals a magical season with seven victories in the LPGA, triumph in the Solheim Cup, and, of course, the award for the best player of the year on the American circuit. This Sunday, she didn’t manage to get into the fight at any point, but she adds a more than commendable fourth place in the CME Group Tour Championship.
The tournament that marked the end of the LPGA 2024 season has also been the definitive closure of Lexi Thompson’s career. The champion of fifteen professional victories, including a Major, bid farewell to professional golf this Sunday. The mark left by the 29-year-old player is indelible and always as one of the public’s favourites. The Florida native says goodbye, among other great figures, with seven Solheim Cup appearances and 27 matches played in the competition. The Florida event also marked the end of the careers of Ally Ewing and Marina Alex.
