Jeeno Thitikul concludes historic season with title defense at LPGA's CME
Beth Ann Nichols- Jeeno Thitikul won the CME Group Championship for a second consecutive year, earning a $4 million prize.
- Thitikul also secured her first Rolex Player of the Year Award and set a new tour scoring record.
- With three titles, she became the winningest player of the 2025 LPGA season.
NAPLES, Fla. — Jeeno Thitikul started playing golf at age 6, and by the time she was 9, she wanted to quit. She'd go straight from school to the driving range and, on her way past the playground, wished she could just go hang out with her friends.
But Thitikul knew from an early age that golf was an investment in the future. By 13, she understood that golf could take care of generations of her family.
"I don't feel heavy," said Thitikul, "but I feel like I just can't give up."
It didn't take long for the sacrifices to pay off. For a second consecutive year, Thitikul won the CME Group Championship and the $4 million paycheck, the largest prize in women's golf history. In four years on the LPGA, she has now earned $17,369,400, with seven career victories.
With her third win of the season, Thitikul clinched her first Rolex Player of the Year Award and the Vare Trophy for a second consecutive year. Her scoring average of 68.681 sets a new scoring record for the tour, eclipsing the mark of 68.697 set by Annika Sorenstam in 2002. The LPGA's most consistent player, Thitikul becomes only the third player in LPGA history to break the 69 mark for the season, joining Sorenstam and Lydia Ko (2022).
"I think it's just an honor," said Thitikul. "Definitely all that Vare Trophy, like Player of the Year is always going to be representing how consistent you are in the whole long season, but to hold that trophy just feel, you know, kind of goosebump because like I think it's had all the history about golf from all the players."
Thitikul's best friend Pajaree Anannarukarn finished second, four strokes back. Anannarukarn, a two-time winner on the LPGA, placed 60th on the CME points list to earn the last spot in the field. Thitikul turned on the television last Sunday to root on her friend from afar.
"I think last time that we're in Korea and then we just go to shopping, right? And Pajaree is just like, I can't shop. I need to like focus and playing good to be able to shopping," said Thitikul.
"So now she can be able to shopping with me, so great."
World No. 2 Nelly Korda, who won seven times last season, finished alone in third. Winless on tour this season, the top-ranked American had two runner-up finishes at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and U.S. Women's Open.
"I feel like there was a lot of ups and downs," said Korda, "and it made me grow a lot mentally, and I would say I'm just also very grateful for it because, you know, success is never linear."
Thitikul is the first back-to-back winner of the CME since Jin Young Ko won it in 2020 and 2021. With only two repeat winners in 2025, Thitikul's three titles makes her the winningest player of the 2025 season. She also finished runner-up four times, including a playoff loss to Grace Kim at the Amundi Evian Championship.
"I've played with her a lot over the past two years," said Korda of the woman who overtook her in the Rolex Rankings, "and I would say that she rarely ever has a mishit. That's kind of what have to do to be on top of the game and that's what's she's doing."
Korda gives much credit to her close-knit team, and Thitikul does the same. The Thai superstar had the same people around her since before she turned professional, working with her caddie, Banpot Bunpisasaree, since age 16 and instructor Kris Assawapimonporn since age 15. Her manager, Kanes "Jack" Nitiwanakul, has known her for a decade. Bunpisasaree celebrated his birthday today with a cut of the largest check in women's golf.
With her parents traveling only to events in Asia, the Dallas-based Thitikul relies heavily on the team that showered her with champagne on the 18th, a group that was led by the gracious Anannarukarn, who won $1 million for her efforts.
"I'm just really happy with how I was able to perform well," said Anannarukarn, "and to celebrate my friend for back-to-back wins ... that was pretty cool."
After a devastating four-putt on the last green at the Kroger Queen City Championship last fall to lose to Charley Hull, Thitikul said she cried so much she had to put an ice pack on her face. She then went to Banff for a week-long vacation – no golf clubs – and said the respite provided a turning point to her season. She won her next start in China.
"Just finding a lot more beautiful things around, and a lot more things that we should appreciate," said Thitikul. "Not just the bad things that we're going to regret, but life has a lot more (to offer) ... not just sitting in the room, you know, overthinking things."