For the second time in her career, Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul has reached No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Currently the top golfing superstar in South-East Asia, Thitikul achieved the feat thanks to her tie for 30th at the AIG Women’s Open, the final Major tournament of the women's golf season.
Thitikul moved one spot on the Rolex Rankings, passing American Nelly Korda, who had held the top spot since March 25, 2024.
Thitikul first ascended to the top of the Rolex Rankings on October 31, 2022, and held the position for two weeks. She is the second Thai player to reach Rolex Rankings No. 1, along with Ariya Jutanugarn.
“I am very grateful to become the No. 1 player in the world for the second time. This is not just about me – this is about my family, my team, and my friends, not to mention the amazing support I feel from my fans in Thailand and all around the world,” said Thitikul.
“There are so many incredible golfers competing every week, and I will work my hardest to make sure I am a strong representative of our game.”
For the record, Thitikul has recorded eight top-10 finishes this season, the most on the LPGA Tour. She captured the title at the Mizuho Americas Open, finished solo second at the Amundi Evian Championship, and earned a tie for second at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
She currently leads the Race to the CME Globe with 2,204.950 points, the Rolex Player of the Year standings with 104 points, and the scoring average standings at 69.511.
Thitikul won twice in 2024, starting with a successful partnership at the Dow Championship with China’s Ruoning Yin. She then capped the year with a victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, earning the largest single prize in the history of women’s golf with the US$4 million winner’s check.
Thitikul has finished second twice at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia, losing an epic nine-hole play to France’s Celine Boutier in 2023 and settling for runner-up again last year, just one shot behind champion Yin.
Before joining the LPGA Tour, Thitikul became the youngest player ever to win the Ladies European Tour’s Race to Costa del Sol in 2021 while also securing Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honours.
At 14 years, 4 months, and 19 days, Thitikul also became the youngest golfer to ever win a professional golf tournament with her victory at the LET’s Thailand Championship in 2017.
Korda first became No. 1 in June 2021 and has spent 108 total weeks atop the Rolex Rankings, becoming the sixth player to reach triple digits in weeks at World No. 1.
Thitikul, Yin, and Korda are also expected to be among the star players for Malaysia's premier golf tournament, the Maybank Championship, scheduled for October 30 - November 2 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC).
The tournament over the last few years has seen the world's best players taking part in the tournament, and this year Thitikul will certainly be out to grab the top spot after two runners-up performances.
