There was no shortage of accolades for world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul in 2025. At Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida, on Sunday, Thitikul successfully defended her CME Group Tour Championship title and captured the season-long Race to the CME Globe. It’s her seventh LPGA title and third this year. With her $4 million winner’s check, the 22-year-old Thai player clinched the money title.
“I think $4 million gave me a little motivation,” Thitikul said. “I love this golf course to be honest. Playing here at CME, our last tournament of the year, gave me really good energy.”
Thitikul shot 26-under (67-63-64-68) and finished four strokes clear of fellow Thai Pajaree Anannarukarn. Her victory also clinched the Rolex Player of Year award and the Vare Trophy for scoring average, making Thitikul the first player since Lydia Ko in 2022 to win the money title, Rolex Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy in the same year.
She won the Vare Trophy in record-setting fashion. Thitikul finished the season with a 68.68 scoring average, beating Annika Sorenstam’s 68.697 record set in 2002.
“It definitely means a lot,” Thitikul said. “When I was 6 years old I was a really young kid who had no idea what the LPGA was, what a world No. 1 looked like. But being here today on the LPGA Tour I know our part is playing golf, and also inspiring the next generation is part of our job as well.”
After a 5-under-par Thursday placed her three strokes behind leader Somi Lee, Thitikul took control of the tournament. On Friday, she shot a bogey-free 63 with nine birdies. Thitikul missed only a single green in regulation and a single fairway.
Through 36 holes, Thitikul led the tournament at 14-under, three strokes clear of Sei Young Kim. On Saturday, she expanded her lead to six strokes over Nelly Korda and Anannarukarn.
In the third round, Thitikul set both personal and LPGA records. After carding a bogey on the first hole, she went the rest of her round bogey free with nine birdies to card an 8-under 64 and move to 22-under. Thitikul’s score of 194 through 54 holes was both a personal and tournament record. Her performance also clinched the LPGA single-season record for birdie-or-better average.
On Sunday, Thitikul needed to get to 25-under to break Sorenstam’s scoring record. But she started slowly and Anannarukarn surged. The last player to get into the field, Anannarukarn birdied her first three holes and turned in 5-under par to get to 21-under. Thitikul played the front in 1-under and made the turn with a two-stroke lead.
Then Thitikul put pedal to the metal, birdieing Nos. 10 and 13 to get to 25-under. Anannarukarn’s bogey on the 12th hole meant Thitikul had a five-shot lead over her compatriot. Thitikul cruised home, with her birdie on the 18th hole securing not only the tournament, but the scoring record.
Everett Munez