11/23/25 03:11:00
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11/23 15:09 CST Thitikul wins another $4 million payoff and caps big year at
Tour Championship
Thitikul wins another $4 million payoff and caps big year at Tour Championship
NAPLES, Fla. (AP) --- Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand capped off her best year with
the biggest cash prize in women's golf, holding off an early challenge from
Pajaree Anannarukarn and closing with a 4-under 68 to win the CME Group Tour
Championship on Sunday for another $4 million payoff.
Thitikul won for the third time this year on the LPGA Tour, and one last birdie
on the final hole at Tiburon Golf Club gave her the lowest scoring average in
tour history.
This was never really in doubt when Thitikul started with a six-shot lead over
Nelly Korda, the American she replaced at No. 1 in the women's world ranking
this year.
Anannarukarn made it a game, however, with five birdies in seven holes to pull
within two shots going to the back nine. Thitikul birdied the 10th and 13th
holes, while her Thai friend dropped a shot on the par-3 12th to return the
lead to five shots.
From there, it was getting to the finish line and getting soaked with bubbly 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 26-under 262 for a four-shot victory.
The victory assured her winning LPGA player of the year and the Vare Trophy for
the lowest scoring average, the two biggest awards in women's golf.
Korda becomes the first player since Tiger Woods in 2010 to go from a seven-win
season to not winning the following year.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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