Jeeno Thitikul Claims Biggest Prize In History Of Women's Game With Victory In CME Group Tour Championship

Jeeno Thitikul has won the largest single prize in the history of the women’s game with victory at the LGPA Tour’s season-closer, the CME Group Tour Championship.

The Thai star claimed her fourth LPGA Tour win at Tiburon Golf Club in Florida following a final round of 65. That hands her a mammoth check for $4m from an $11m overall purpose, while it also ensures her maiden Race to the CME Globe title.

Thitikul began the final round tied with Angel Yin following a nine-under 63 on Saturday that included seven birdies and an eagle.

She didn’t quite scale those heights on Sunday, but she still produced an assured seven-under 65 as she closed out the title by one shot over Yin to finish 22-under for the tournament.

Thitikul got off to a fast start with two birdies in her opening three holes as her opponent began with three successive pars. However, the pair were back level after the fourth, when Thitikul made her only bogey of the day as Yin birdied.

Another birdie from Thitikul at the seventh was followed by Yin’s second birdie of the day at the eighth, and they headed to the turn neck-and-neck.

Yin was the first to take the initiative on the back nine, with birdies at the 10^th and 12^th to open up a two-shot lead, but the former World No.1 hit back with successive birdies on the 13^th and 14^th. However, she remained one behind Yin after the American also birdied the 14^th.

Yin regained her two-shot lead on the 16^th with her sixth birdie of the day, and in a blemish-free round, it looked as though the only way to stop her claiming victory would be a moment of magic from Thitikul.

It duly arrived on the very next hole as she drained a sizeable putt for eagle to draw level after Yin uncharacteristically rolled her birdie putt wide.

With the winner of the CME Group Tour Championship and the Race to the CME Globe resting on the final hole, Thitikul’s approach on the 18^th was pure brilliance, rolling within a few feet of the hole and the chance of birdie.

After Yin made par, Thitikul made no mistake with her birdie putt to close out the biggest win of her career.